Reviving Ange Degheest, Poem Pamphlet No. 6
From metal type to phototypesetting, from the typewriter to the Minitel, and from engraving to dry-transfer lettering, the typographical work of Ange Degheest (1928–2009) testifies of the numerous technical changes the printing and telecommunication sectors went through during the second half of the twentieth century. Ange Degheest’s story is remarkable and a perfect illustration of the technical odyssey that took place throughout the twentieth century. Yet it is astonishing and disturbing to realise that, in spite of the quality and diversity of her lettering and type design work, her name has been forgotten amongst the list of those who have shaped the history of typography to this day.
Reviving Ange Degheest was collectively written in Benjamin Gomez’s type design class at EESAB Rennes by Eugénie Bidaut, Oriane Charvieux, Anaïs Déal, Luna Delabre, Camille Depalle, Mandy Elbé, Justine Herbel and May Jolivet. Afterword ‘Ange Degheest, a female ghost of France’s type history’ by Alice Savoie. Edited by Alice Savoie and Jérôme Knebusch in the Poem Pamphlet series.
The digitized typefaces of Ange Degheest are available as free Open Source types at Velvetyne Type Foundry.
1 Comment on “Reviving Ange Degheest, Poem Pamphlet No. 6”
Just so it’s clear: Ange Degheest is a fictional character, presumably meant to draw attention to the lack of women in type history. There are plenty of questions to ask about whether this scheme is the best way to shine that light (versus focusing on the many real women in type design whose stories are not yet fully researched or told). That said, I commend the team of students who put so much effort into making this unique project real. Their original type designs are excellent!