LEGIBILITY YTILIBIGEL LEBGILITIY

QUESTION:

Do you feel there is a significant amount of typographic design education taught in our schools?
Including 'Type Design', 'Typography', 'Type History', 'Type Theory'.
I am talking about the nit-picky ins and outs of type that most people never really learn unless searching for themselves.
Do you feel this kind of education is a necessity or optional?

In this section feel free to make general comments and even pose your own questions for me or for others.

Use this section to link and reference places, websites, publications, people, heroes, competitions, annuals, meetings, forums, workshops, yourself and even typefaces that you like, respect, love or worship. Anything that you find interesting or think may be of interest to others.

QUESTION:

At what point do you think a letter ceases to be a letter?
and,
Do you believe in the notion that we read words, not by the letter, but by the shape of the word that the letters create?
(see typeface BLANK in images)

Welcome to the Legibility Blog.

I started this blog to allow access to those who enjoy type and type design to come together and discuss the subject.

The aim is to shed light on those who may not otherwise have a chance to let themselves be heard. I plan to hopefully get enough content to produce a publication on the ideas and findings of those who participate in this blog.

Introductions: My name is Barry Spencer, and I am a graphic and type designer from Melbourne, Australia. My life is design, but my passion is type.

I wish to use this space like a forum, by monitoring and contributing to this blog and hopefully kick-starting some discussion amongst those who use it through comments.

A main focus in my type design is that of (as the name suggests) legibility. I enjoy pushing the boundaries of type and experimenting with forms that may not otherwise be used in place of the roman alphabet.

How far can letterforms be taken forward or stripped back before they no longer are considered letters?

Please note that I DO NOT mean "grunge" looking type, or distressed or manipulated type, these faces have their place, but I am not interested in them for this study. I urge those who participate to raise questions and argue with issues, but always respect others in their views.

Also, I would like this to be a place for those who are only new to the subject of type to be able to visit and find places to research and learn more about type and type design. So feel free to link and reference places, websites, publications, people, heroes, competitions, annuals, meetings, forums, workshops, yourself and even typefaces that you like, respect, love or worship.

Hoping that this helps others learn about and respect type from it's beginnings and it's evolution.

Most of all, have fun and contribute.

Feel free to visit my website for examples of what I am talking about or view the image gallery.
For further information please email me.

Regards, Barry Spencer