Damned to Hellvetica.

I have a confession.

I love type. 

But I know nothing about it.

In fact, my love of type is incredibly superficial.  However, it has lasted longer than other infatuations.  You see, I used to work at a wonderful place where things like type are extremely important.

During my time with the wonderful people at Magma I cultivated interests in all kinds of pretty wonders I lacked the skill to emulate.  Back then, we had an hour lunch break, and I would either pop over to the Chinese Arts Centre or head to the back of the shop to read a bit.  The best thing about Magma was that you could spend your time reading books on the history of typography, looking through a collection of graffiti sprayed on trains through Germany, or browsing through a colour index.  Yes, I enjoy browsing through colour indexes, and own one for this very reason.

One little book in particular often stared me down as I turned to the back of the shop, sandwich in hand, and was so convincing that I bought it, and read it right through.  By the end I was so happy I wanted to physically hug this book.

The last issue of Émigré excited me partly because I could identify with people living in a strange land.  Mostly, however, I was drawn to the story of people being creative in an extremely pragmatic niche.  The idea that there is creativity in everything was not an unfamiliar one, but for some reason it comes to life for me in type.  It’s my favourite example of the little bridges that join dour pragmatism and art for art’s sake.

You see, reading about typography, and typographers, does more than make me feel smug for using a Macintosh.  I can’t help but be fascinated by something that I never even thought about, not even once, for the first twenty-three years of my life.  Reading an interview today over at Typographica, I found out that there were 1,800 new commercial typefaces back in 2006.  It blows my mind.  People who manipulate type fascinate me but I’m not even sure where to start asking them questions.

It’s fantastic. I love type.  I am an unenlightened enthusiast.  Writing in Verdana.