Introducing LegiStyles™

Posted on February 2, 2009February 2, 2009 Posted in Apple, Design, Technology, TypographyTagged CSS, graphic design, legibility, readability, reader, rss, style, Typography8 Comments

As some of you already know, I use NetNewsWire for all my feed reading duties. It’s an amazing desktop applications that offers a ton of great features including synchronization. One of the great advantages of using NNW is that you can use custom CSS styles on your feeds.

There are a bunch of styles out there that are good but they all kind of look the same and most of them don’t focus on typography and readability. I’m trying to fill this void with what I like to call LegiStyles™, a series of custom NNW styles I’ve created that focus on design and typography. Best of all they’re free.

As of now I have 4 styles available but I plan to add more over time. If you don’t use NNW, I highly recommend it. If you do, head over to the site and download a style or two.

I’ve setup an RSS feed as a way to keep informed on news and updates. For all you Twitter users, follow LegiStyles for updates and also reply with any feedback using @legistyles.

Enjoy.

Die Neue Haas Grotesk

Posted on January 21, 2009January 21, 2009 Posted in Design, TypographyTagged book, helvetica, specimen, typeface, Typography6 Comments

I found this Flickr set of the super rare Die Neue Haas Grotesk type specimen book. For those of you that don’t know, Die Neue Haas Grotesk was the original name for Helvetica. You can get a glimpse of the book in the film Helvetica when Matthew Carter shows off his copy. It was also on display at the MOMA as part of an Helvetica exhibit.

What I would do to get my hands on a copy.

The Vignelli Canon

Posted on January 9, 2009January 9, 2009 Posted in Design, Grid Systems, TypographyTagged graphic design, grid system, guide, International Typographic Style, posters, reference, rules, swiss style, typeface, Typography17 Comments

I introduce to you, The Holy Grail.

Massimo Vignelli has published an amazing 96 page book on better understanding typography in graphic design, according to him. The book gives specific details on Vignelli’s methodology and approach as well as how he decides on paper sizes, typefaces and other tangibles. There is also a nice section on grids.

It’s an excellent book that every designer should read. The book is available for free online in PDF format but I do hope they print this one out because it’s a masterpiece in my opinion.

BBDK Launches Luigi Bormioli Site

Posted on January 7, 2009January 7, 2009 Posted in Design, Grid Systems, Industrial Design, TypographyTagged glass, Gotham, graphic design, grid system, helvetica, minimalism, typeface, Typography, user experience, websites6 Comments

My good friend Duane King and his uber-talented crew at BBDK have just launched a stunning new site for Italian glassware company Luigi Bormioli. I personally consider this site to be one of the best sites on the web in terms of design, typography, functionally and usability.

The design is ultra-clean and simple and the great use of white space makes it all feel very elegant and sophisticated. Designed on a simple grid, BBDK was able to create an eye pleasing layout that enhances the gorgeous photography. It’s all topped with a precise use of Gotham and Helvetica. How can you go wrong with those wonderful typefaces?

The site is extremely easy to navigate and the slight transitions and interaction points make the it a joy to use, and work harmoniously with the minimal design. This is an excellent example showing that it’s possible to create an engaging site without the use of Flash. Ian Coyle of Superheroes, who designed and developed the amazing ShopComposition site, worked with BBDK to develop the Bormioli site.

If this site isn’t recognized for it’s brilliance, then there is something really wrong with this world.

You can read more about the project over at Thinking for a Living.

Type Nuts

Posted on January 5, 2009January 5, 2009 Posted in TypographyTagged avant garde, desktop, fonts, iphone, type, typeface, Typography, wallpaper3 Comments

Well, it’s good to be back! I want to wish everyone a happy new year.

To start off the new year we have a sweet site by John at I Love Typography called Type Nuts that features type-themed & type-inspired iPhone & desktop wallpapers. Some really nice stuff on there including a new wallpaper I designed for the site.

Experimental Jetset 2008 Relaunch

Posted on December 30, 2008December 30, 2008 Posted in Design, Grid Systems, International Typographic Style, TypographyTagged dutch, graphic design, Grid Systems, helvetica, minimalism, modernism, posters, Typography9 Comments

I had to come out of hibernation for this one. Danny, Marieke and Erwin from Experimental Jetset just emailed me about their new site. They’ve added a ton of new work, most of which I’ve never seen before, and all of it is just blowing my mind. Check out their new site but I will warn you, get a bib.