Speaker:

SPECIMEN – designing fonts (hi)story(ies)

At last LGM I did a lightning talk to present SPECIMEN, a blog and growing collection of graphic essays on F/LOS typefaces. This project was developed to rethink the traditional “neutral” form of font specimens, instead choosing a specific layout and content in line with the history and cultural implications of each typeface. An approach that takes in consideration the sources and the documentation of the fonts.

This year I would like to propose both a lecture with examples of this approach to F/LOS typefaces and a “specimen workshop” (see workshop proposal).

This year, I would like to go further into the ideas developed in this project and show examples of F/LOS specimens (made by others and made by me) taking in consideration the fonts’ (hi)story. The lecture has three aims: to provide reflection on what constitutes an appropriate specimen for a libre typeface, to invite font designers to share more information on the font’s history(ies), and to prepare the ground for the connected workshop, or “specimen sprint” held during LGM.

Loraine Furter

Loraine Furter is a graphic designer who recently met the Open Source approach, enriching her (graphical) practice and vision of creation. Loraine is active in the research around new forms of publishing, from digital and hybrid publishing to book sprints, and frequently gives workshops on this subject. http://specimen.meteor.com/