Seeking Examples of Typeface Design Documention

Daniel Yacob · August 27

Greetings,

I'm looking for examples of documentation of a typeface that would cover the initial objectives of the design, the intent of its application, style and shape influences, obstacles and challenges encountered, and the decisions made to overcome them, along with the tradeoffs considered.

Documentation like this would be more like a project report than a design brief, which in turn is more focused on eliciting requirements from a customer.

Please let me know if there are any classic examples of documentation like this that I should review. Thank you!

Moritz Kleinsorge · August 27

Take a look into the blog of Klim:
https://klim.co.nz/blog/

Xiaoyuan · August 27

John Hudson said:

The Now Read This book does this for the ClearType collection of typefaces made for Microsoft in the early 2000s.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/typography/cleartype/clear-type-font-collection
(It’s even available online!) 😊

Nick Shinn · August 27

I wouldn’t say this is classic, but it’s the most comprehensive case study I’ve written about a commission:
Case study of Sense/Sensibility and Pratt, commissioned for a newspaper redesign.

The most comprehensive case study I’ve written about a “my idea” typeface:
Auld English.

This essay covers not only the original Cartier typeface, but also my restoration:
The Truth about Dair.

Christopher Burke’s Paul Renner is very good on Futura.

James Montalbano · August 28

https://www.clearviewhwy.com/

Craig Eliason · August 27

Richard Southall’s Printer’s Type in the Twentieth Century kind of does this, though the focus is more on explaining the production than the design.

John Hudson · August 27

The Now Read This book does this for the ClearType collection of typefaces made for Microsoft in the early 2000s.

John Hudson · August 27

Thanks @Xiaoyuan. I didn’t know MS had published the PDF online. It’s funny that its the version with the print registration and crop marks from the book production, but good to have it accessible.

John Hudson · August 28

Nick, I am disappointed that your Cartier piece wasn’t punningly entitled ‘Truth or Dair’.

Nick Shinn · August 28

That was what I was alluding to.

SCarewe · August 28

That's also obvious, I really appreciated that pun. Not too in-your-face, but obviously there

Daniel Yacob · August 29

Thank you everyone, this is a terrific collection! I have my weekend reading cut out for me, and then some 😊

Stephen Coles · August 31

Past students of the Type@Cooper West program and Type West programs created “process books” that describe the development of their original and revival typefaces. Some of these are in Letterform Archive’s Online Archive. Have a look at Harmon, Oaks, Carolina, and Miami Weiß,

Alfonso García · September 1

Hello Daniel, mine is in spanish, I hope it helps you.

https://www.academia.edu/100690268/Faustina_Informe

Peter Bain · September 14

People might also look at typeculture.com. There are written materials from both Type/Media and Reading students.

Dave Crossland · September 14

http://designwithfontforge.com/en-US/Planning_Your_Project.html also has some info on this topic

Seeking Examples of Typeface Design Documention

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