This year’s Design Thinkers conference kick off party featured the Canadian debut of the FIFFteen Exhibit at Resistor Gallery in Toronto’s funky College Street district. Celebrating 15 years of the FontFont type library co-founded by graphic design legends Neville Brody and Erik Spiekermann, the exhibit promised to “reveals tricks of the type trade and shows how type is used in ways never imagined by its creators.” But I had no idea the evening would reveal that Brody himself doesn’t believe in the power of setting type correctly.
The exhibit was impressive with over fifty linear meters of 6 foot high posters showing the various typefaces designed by FontFont over the last 15 years. Neville Brody himself was present as the evening’s special guest speaker causing young designers and students to giggle with delight as they got to meet one of their heroes. I even met a young designer who did her Masters design thesis on Brody. I have to admit, even I was a bit intimidated by meeting the man.
Then, while chatting with an older graphic designer, we both noticed some oddities in the body copy of one of the main posters hanging beside us explaining Brody’s FUSE project. What first caught our eye was the justified paragraph amongst the aligned left text copy. But on closer examination we also found a typo, a widow, unusual letterspacing and horribly misaligned baselines – all in the same block of body copy. Now, of course Brody is well known for innovative typesetting, but this was straight up body copy in a text box.
My new friend found this all very offensive in a typography exhibit and decided Mr. Brody must be informed. So, to my horror, he marched over and literally dragged the surprised man over to the posters where we stood.
“Look at this!” says my excited design chum, “what rookie set this type?” he said as he pointed out the obvious errors. I was mortified as you can imagine – a hero and icon of graphic and type design challenged publicly like this.
“I did,” admitted Brody, continuing “did you at least read the words? That’s all I really care.” Adding some comment about the difference between font design and setting type as though Norm, himself a very experienced graphic designer, was beneath him for asking.
“No,” answered Norm, “I was too distracted by the horrible typesetting.” Pow! Ouch. I backed away slowly, pretending to be engrossed in another poster.
Posted by Mark Busse
Tags: Design, Events, Typography
Robbyn Stajkowski (November 30th, 2006)
The typography there was very interesting and unique. Although, that one error, was noticed by many and talked about that night. As a student it made me realize that mistakes are made, and will be discussed. Thanks!