“Sometimes I will give some very vague directions to the designer that I'm working with on a particular project and they'll come back and surprise me with something that really shows a lot of their own 'hand' in it. Other times I'll have a really clear idea about how I want it done and I'll draw it out pretty precisely and say 'make it look exactly like this' and it will be something where it looks like I can say it was 'fully my design'. The work can also range between the two.” WantGivingLooksI CanTwoIdeasSometimesDoneShowsHandsClearDesignParticularProjectsDrawsSurpriseRangeDesignerVagueSurprise Me Author:Michael Bierut
“Most people have no idea how much goes into designing a typeface. Twenty-six letters in the alphabet, usually with two versions of each, upper and lower case. Punctuation and alternate characters and numbers - let's not forget numbers - can add another 40 or so.” PeopleTwoIdeasCharacterForgetNumbersCasesDesignSixLettersTwentiesAddVersionsNo IdeaAlphabetPunctuationTypefaces Author:Michael Bierut
“I'm not an expert in typefaces that serve scientific writing, but I'd guess that's another dozen or two.” WritingTwoExpertsDozenTypefaces Author:Michael Bierut
“There was a time when most people had a choice between two kinds of personal communication, handwriting or using a typewriter. Today, people are invited to choose from a list of (surprisingly exotic) typefaces every time they turn on their computer. I think this has made everyone more aware of the idea that picking a typeface is a conscious choice.” PeopleThinkingKindMadeTwoIdeasTodayTurnsChoicesCommunicationComputerConsciousListsInvitedTurn-onExoticTypewritersHandwritingTypefaces Author:Michael Bierut
“We use the word typography to describe two different things: the design of letterforms, and the layout of typeset passages on a page. Both of those experiences are really important to communicating information, especially when that information involves complex ideas.” TwoImportantIdeasDifferentUseInformationDesignPagesComplexesCommunicateDifferent ThingsPassagesTypographyTwo Different ThingsLayout Author:Michael Bierut
