Typographica is a review of typefaces and type books, with occasional commentary on fonts and typographic design. Edited by Stephen Coles, also of Fonts In Use and The Mid-Century Modernist.
Founded in 2002 by Joshua Lurie-Terrell. Relaunched in 2009 by Coles and Chris Hamamoto.
Set in Adelle Sans by TypeTogether, Turnip by David Jonathan Ross, and JAF Bernini Sans by Tim Ahrens.
Brought to you by this month’s nameplate sponsor, FontShop, MyFonts, FontFont, Wordpress, and the letter B. Read our editorial policy.
Fonts In Use
Type at work in the real world.
The Anatomy of Type
A book about the finer details of typefaces.
Chromeography
Lettering on vintage cars, appliances, and other objects.
Fleurs Coiffeur Liqueur
Lettering on storefronts.
Obligatory Socialization
A New Nameplate Tradition
One of the Typographica rituals of which we’re most proud is the rotating nameplate. Each design was created and submitted by a reader, reflecting the site’s collaborative nature and keeping things fresh, while offering type and graphic designers the opportunity to show off their latest work. We’ve saved 152 of the 154 nameplates for posterity. The other two? Their fate is known only to Dr. Hermann Pütershein.
Above: A collection of 152 reader-submitted nameplates — all the way back to June, 2002. Push play. If you sit here long enough you can see them all!
Now that we have a new Typographica, it’s time for a new nameplate tradition. This redesign is all about the type, so there’s no better element to crown the page (and drive the main navigation) than a fresh typeface every few weeks.
Anyone is welcome to submit their typeface for consideration as a future Typographica nameplate. There are two requirements:
1. the typeface must fit Typographica’s ethereal and undocumented requirements for design and readability
2. we’ll request a sponsorship fee to keep the site running
The nameplate typeface will be credited in the header of every page on the site and linked permanently below. Please contact the editor if interested.
Nameplate Archive
April 2009 — Dessau by Gábor Kóthay
May 2009 — Stag Stencil by Christian Schwartz
Jun 2009 — FF Tartine Script by Xavier Dupré
Jul 2009 — Dez Squeeze by Chris Lozos
Aug 2009 — Calluna by Jos Buivenga
Oct 2009 — Bonesana by Matthieu Cortat
Jan 2010 — FF Yoga Sans by Xavier Dupré
Sep 2010 — Geotica by Jos Buivenga
Dec 2010 — Satura by Göran Söderström by Peter Bruhn
Jan 2010 — Calluna Sans by Jos Buivenga
Feb 2010 — Swagg by Richard Miller
Mar 2010 — Sweet Sans by Mark van Bronkhorst
Apr 2011 — ARS Maquette by Angus R. Shamal
May 2011 — Sweet Square by Mark van Bronkhorst
Feb 2012 — FF Quadraat Web by Fred Smeijers
Jan 2013 — MVB Verdigris by Mark van Bronkhorst
Feb 2013 — Vinter by Frode Helland and Telefon by Sindre Bremnes
Tracking Xavier Dupré
Library Subscriptions: The Future of Fonts? Shall We Sing or Cry?(19)
Roof Kerning in Amsterdam(18)
Instant(2)
Krul(1)
Source Sans(1)
Roboto is a Four-headed Frankenfont(90)
Comenia(3)
Balkan Sans(9)
The Elements of Typographic Style, Version 4.0(20)
JAF Bernini Sans(3)
Our Favorite Typefaces of 2012(27)
Turnip(7)
Quintet(2)
Colvert(2)
Garvis(1)