The eighties are everywhere. Love them or hate them, over the past several years it has been almost impossible to escape the resurgence of bright neon colors, flashy animal prints, neoliberal ideas, and catchy synth chords. For graphic designer Ivana Palečková and type designer Jitka Janečková, thinking about this decade brings back a very special piece of typographic nostalgia.| Typographica
I have always been fascinated by the various tools used to create letterforms. How an object like a nib, a chisel, or even an imaginary tool can shape glyphs is what I find most interesting in type design. These tools are usually limited by the human body — the hand, in particular. So when I heard that Movement was inspired by a dancer, I was especially intrigued.| Typographica
In a marketplace full of puffery, the typeface name “Okay” seems like a declaration of mediocrity, but this may become a new go-to type for when volume and affability need to be high.| Typographica
We love RVI because of its high educational value. In its own humble way, this typeface actually teaches its users. With all of the little changes that pile up, the differentiation between slantation and construction, and the precise freedom it allows — RVI makes you look carefully, pay attention to details, and learn a thing or two about italics.| Typographica
Antonia is a contemporary serif typeface that interlinks a sharp-edged character with cheerfulness. Combining characteristics that don’t seem to be compatible is one of the most difficult arts of type design and was one of the trends I recognized this year. Most often, such attempts result in unconventional display type. Sometimes, though, they add a fresh note to a more serious genre.| Typographica
I think I first fell in love with Obviously while I was standing in front of a six-foot-tall version of it, struggling to frame a selfie. Because it was blown up so big, I could see it wasn’t just another heavily interpolated, meet-every-need sans family.| Typographica
At first, Chikki seems contradictory: How can something brittle, crisp, and textured evoke a feeling of such warmth and familiarity? If you are familiar with chikki, the Indian snack food to which this typeface owes its inspiration and name, you will understand.| Typographica
Clavichord looks tarted up like a scrawny Christmas tree weighed down with a multitude of frills, swashes, flourishes, and ball terminals like so many garish and pendulous ornaments. Sounds godawful, doesn’t it? Yet the more I look, the more I like, despite all my efforts to resist.| Typographica
FS Kim’s liveliness confidently evokes a calligrapher’s hand. Flair, character, heft, and a touch of self-consciousness — FS Kim is both versatile and really rather lovely.| Typographica