Design Fundamentals Week 4: Typography

As an assignment for my Design Fundamentals class at NYU Tisch, I give my thoughts on Netflix’s Abstract S2:E6 ‘Jonathan Hoefler: Typeface Design’.

Ever since I started learning about typography, I’ve started to notice the variety of typefaces that I come across in my daily life. After watching this episode of Abstract, I’ve become even more aware of typefaces on everything from tea bottles, menus, storefronts, and much more.

I think it’s incredible how typography is something that most people don’t (consciously) pay much attention, but is incredibly influential and complex. I was recently walking in the city one night, and after just glancing at the logo and menu design of a restaurant, I somehow knew that they served brunch. The restaurant was closed, I was too far to actually read the words on the menu, and there was no indication that they specifically served brunch. After looking closer, I saw that they did in fact serve brunch, and I realized the typewriter-style typeface on the menu seemed to have communicated that to me.

While watching the episode, I was surprised to learn about how long and complex of a process creating a new typeface can be. There really were so many more intricacies to it than I would’ve imagined. I was also really impressed by Jonathan Hoefler’s research approach to creating a new typeface. For him it was as though these typefaces were lost to time and he was trying to revive them in the best possible way, maintaining a balance between historical accuracy, consistency, and legibility.

Upon learning more about typography, I started to wonder how someone would even start a career in typeface design in the first place. I think it’s incredible how Hoefler’s career began and grew, and how behind the scenes, he’s defined some of the world’s most recognized brands.

This episode definitely helped me further recognize the power of typography. A typeface alone can say so much more than the words themselves, and changing a typeface can completely change how a message is interpreted or perceived.