What precisely is a serif?

The publication Collection – Serife? is intended to initiate the learning process through recognition, to make the anatomy of the Roman letter more accessible and show the wide range of variation. From static serif to geometric Egyptienne—as different as they all look, they share one important component: the serif.

A serif, however, rarely comes alone (shoutout to Indra Kupferschmid), which is why other anatomical characteristics are also shown on the basis of 72 different typefaces. The contrast between Swiss design and the focus on serifs creates another level that is reflected in the poster, which consists of the total four printed sheets.

The project was published by Ivana Baumann and Gabriel Dukić in January 2021 under the supervision of Prof. Dipl.-Des. Eva Kubinyi at FH Aachen. It has been awarded by aed Neuland in June 2021.

Wallpaper poster on the anatomy of typefaces, by visual artist Arno Kathollnig. Arno combined a roman text face, Arlt by Alejandro Lo Celso (Pampa Type) with the handwritten-looking Duffy Script by Nick Shinn (ShinnType) and an outlined slab serif, Anubis by Dino dos Santos (DSType).

Schrift. Wahl und Mischung (“Type: selection and pairing”) is an extensive guide into the subject of choosing and combining typefaces. Written, designed and typeset by Kai Büschl and Oliver Linke – both typedesigners, typographers and lecturers – it details the historic, technical, and aesthetic background of todays typographic practice comprehensively. The book was published in 2021 by Rheinwerk Verlag and serves as a reference for both students and professionals alike.

Both content and figures use a range of typefaces, some of which are designed by the authors, and all available from their Lazydogs foundry: LD Moderne Slab and LD Grotesk are used on the book cover. The interior adds LD Moderne Antiqua, LD Elsnac, LD Fabiol and LD Vela to the mix.

The cover shows letters from Italian calligraphy masters.

Writing is undoubtedly a leading factor in the development of human civilization. In Italy, the task of promoting the culture of “beautiful writing” is carried out by the Associazione Calligrafica Italiana through workshops, specialized courses, and various initiatives. After years of neglect this discipline is back to being more alive than ever, especially among young people. In response to this growing interest, the Association’s master calligraphers have prepared this new and precious tool.

A manual that introduces the fundamental rules of calligraphy and examines eleven styles of writing, from classical to contemporary. Each model is edited by a teacher of the Association who is expert in the respective style. Finally, the last part presents some examples of practical application, made both by members of the ACI and by internationally renowned foreign colleagues and collaborators. The manual is recommended for students, professionals, calligraphy enthusiasts and anyone looking for the beauty of handwritten letters.

Published by Lazy Dog Press, the manual is currently available in Italian language only.

Basic calligraphy principles are explored in depth.

Examples of calligraphy compositions made by Italian masters (shown above is Luca Barcellona’s work).

Instructions for writing in Textura style.

Ellen Lupton’s classic, Thinking With Type, has a beautiful web version. Fedra Serif A is used for text and Fedra Serif B for headlines. The website beautifully translates the book’s content to web format. (The book is typeset in Martin Majoor’s FF Scala.)

The limited edition, letterpressed Typographic Anatomy Lesson print I worked on with Scott Boms and Luke Dorny for the Ligature, Loop & Stem joint. Printed at Lunar Caustic Press in Toronto.