Typology: Type Design from the Victorian Era to the Digital Age

by Steven Heller, Louise Fili

A must-have for designers, not to mention that quirky group in love with type for type’s sake (you know who you are), Typology is the most visually dynamic compendium of typefaces on the market. Steven Heller and Louise Fili, two of the most admired and respected designers working today, cover everything from the classic elegance of the late 19th century to the fractured hypermedia of today. Organized by historical era and country of origin, each section introduces the culture and aesthetic of the period, discusses how individual styles developed, and offers insights into the artistry of key typographers and foundries. Expertly assembled and thoughtfully written, no other book encompasses this wealth of type styles in historical context. Its pages are profusely illustrated with hundreds of complete alphabets, and such original artifacts as typesheets, catalogs, broadsides, posters, and many other primary source examples. In all, Typology is the long-awaited type encyclopedia destined to be a standard reference work for years to come.

Genres: Design, Art, Nonfiction, Art Design, Reference

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Steven Heller writes a monthly column on graphic design books for The New York Times Book Review and is co-chair of MFA Design at the School of Visual Arts. He has written more than 100 books on graphic design, illustration and political art, including Paul Rand, Merz to Emigre and Beyond: Avant Garde Magazine Design of the Twentieth Century, Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design Second Edition, Handwritten: Expressive Lettering in the Digital Age, Graphic Design History, Citizen Designer, Seymour Chwast: The Left Handed Designer, The Push Pin Graphic: Twenty Five Years of Design and Illustration, Stylepedia: A Guide to Graphic Design Mannerisms, Quirks, and Conceits, The Anatomy of Design: Uncovering the Influences and Inspirations in Modern Graphic Design. He edits VOICE: The AIGA Online Journal of Graphic Design, and writes for Baseline, Design Observer, Eye, Grafik, I.D., Metropolis, Print, and Step. Steven is the recipient of the Art Directors Club Special Educators Award, the AIGA Medal for Lifetime Achievement, and the School of Visual Arts' Masters Series Award.

Reviews

[Andira · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have.
Brief history of typography.