Brief History of Typography

And Access to the Written Word (A Western Perspective)

Typography: the study, use and design of type, or sets of repeatable letterforms.

Earliest WritingMiddle East spreading into Europe

Roman AlphabetTimes New Roman is used today

Medieval Ages (400-1450)

• Religious Manuscripts • Hand-scribed calligraphy • Very time consuming • Blackletter, Gothic • Gold gilding, illumination • Books only available to the

Church or wealthy patrons

Wood Block Prints• Texts made more available in

the middle of the 15th century in Europe

• Need for more readable type

• Lowercase letters

• Whiteletter scripts Juan de Torquemada. Meditationes. Rome: Stephan Plannck, March 13, 1484. Rosenwald Collection. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (9)

Renaissance (1450-1650)• Great growth in art and science

• Rationalism over religion

• Rebirth of Greek and Roman classical ideas, art

• Development of moveable type technology

Moveable Type Printing PressBooks More Available

Age of Enlightenment (1650-1765)

• Logic and scientific reasoning

• Questioning convention and authority

• Art focusses on human nature, lifestyle, culture

• Sets the stage for Democratization and Globalization

Type Design as a

Profession

• Nicholas Jensen developed first full Roman Typeface - early 1400’s

• Aldus Manutius invents italics for miniaturized books - late 1400’s

• Geoffroy Troy bases letterforms on the ideal human form - early 1500’s

• Pierre Simon Fournier standardizes font sizing with the point system - early 1700’s

• John Baskerville’s Transition Font - mid 1700’s

Industrial Revolution (1765-1900)

• Steam engine, electric light, telephone

• People moving to the cities

• Mechanization of production

• Advertising, Typewriter, Steam powered press

• Beginning of “Modern Art Movement”

Simple, Readable Text Display Font, San Serif, Bold

Many Schools of Art and Design

International SchoolArt Nouveau

Arts and Crafts

Information Revolution• Helvetica, Times New Roman • ISOTYPE, International Typographic Style, infographics• Structure, legibility, readability, internationalism

Art DecoIndustrialization and product design leads to increasingly

decorative typography

Mid and Late Modern

Art of Rebellion 1960’s and 70’s

• Vietnam War

• Rock-n-Roll

• Drug Counterculture

• Political and Social unrest

Psychodelic

Grafitti

Figurative

Computer Age• Early Apple Fonts: Chicago, Geneva

• Laser Printer, Outline Fonts

• Font Standards

• Font Revival

• Anyone can design

Modern Age

• Experimentation

• Font as part of an overall design

• Legibility ????

• Grunge, Punk, New Wave, Deconstruction, Controlled Chaos, Rave, Broken and Chaotic

Current Trends in Typography

• E-books, Social Media, Self Publishing

• Responsive web design, reader’s choice

• Kinetic Typography

• Broken and Chaotic is still in fashion, but

• Clean, legible, minimalism has returned

Cutouts and Overlay

Wide kerning

Hidden Content

Hand Drawn Lettering

Youth in developing countries face staggering obstacles, including high rates of HIV infection, lack of sexual and reproductive health knowledge, high rates of gender-based violence, and lack of employment opportunities. This is where your support can make a difference by providing life-saving health and wellness skills through Grassroot Soccer (GRS) programs.

We leverage the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and mobilize at-risk youth in developing countries to overcome their greatest health challenges, live healthier, more productive lives, and be agents for change in their communities.

Navigating health risks during a GRS soccer-based activity in Alexandra, South Africa.

YOUR SUPPORT PROVIDES LIFE-SAVING HEALTH SKILLS TO YOUTH

OUR MODEL

CURRICULUM COACHES CULTURESKILLZ soccer-based health

curriculum

Caring adults and mentors

Vital conversations, safe spaces,

inspiration, and fun

The Future???