SOMETIMES, it just doesn't matter what NEEDS to
be done. When inspiration hits, it's often with the blunt force of a whack on
the head with a 2x4. Forget deadlines, forget obligations, and even forget
food! Today, I'm working on my new website, bog and newsletter design. It's not
like I HAVE DEADLINES!!! I've become obsessed with a particular font that I
want (read NEED) to buy, one that is out of my budget, but that I feel certain
I'm going to find a way to justify the purchase. I checked my budget last year
and realized I spent $1500. On fonts. My husband/CFO just doesn't understand...
"ANOTHER FONT??? What's wrong with Helvetica???" I reply, " I
love Helvetica, it's a hard worker, 'little black dress' of fonts"
but..."corn flakes for breakfast every morning just doesn't satisfy a
creative soul". (This, to a man who eats PB&J every Tues, Sat. and
Sun.)
You
should see this font! Now, I do admit that an am a bit of a type snob and if
it's free or even cheap, that means it's common and most likely not well designed.
As a graphic designer, it's not just about the shape of the "g" but
the extras such as ligatures, ampersands, and other elements. I tell my husband
a font is an investment in your tools. If you use it over and over, it will pay
for itself in no time. Trouble is, I always, ALWAYS want more. IT NEVER ENDS! I
admire type designers so much, the artistry, the patience, and the attention to
extreme detail!
One
of the many wonderful things about being a creative is the same thing that is a
curse. It's called obsession. So many artists I know are O.C.D. (obsessive
compulsive disorder) to some extent. I am OCD when it comes to certain things,
like color and design. If it's not right, I drive myself crazy tweaking,
adjusting and tweaking some more. The hard part about developing product that
gets made a gazillion miles away from where you live, in a country that has a
very different color aesthetic, different inks, etc, is that you have to give
up certain amounts control. It's like going to Vegas...it's a crapshoot. Mix
that in with having to make product that fits in a certain sized box, is a
specific price point, is in the color family that a certain buyer loves...well,
it's an exercise in patience, no doubt! Overall, my newest kit came back fine.
If I had been at the factory, well, I would have pumped up the reds a bit. But
really, that's all, which is quite good. Ideally I get approvals BEFORE
anything gets printed but sometimes production deadlines require certain parts
move forward immediately. It's part of the drill, can't fight it, can't change
it.
Now,
back to THE FONT...
In
my first semester of design school, a school that is EASY to get into, but HARD
(very HARD) to graduate from, we were subjected to hand drawing type that was
scrutinized almost under microscopic conditions (Thanks, Ron). The intricacies,
the subtleties, the nuances, it all was examined as though it were the ultimate
cure for mankind's misfortunes. I'm talking brutal. Each week we had to hand
draw a font which took anywhere from 10-15 hours per font. I'm talking EXACT.
This being one of 4 or 5 classes that required the same or more amount of study
time each week. ummmph. At the age of 40 something, it was beyond grueling,
especially with the "over 40”eyes that I brought with me. Anyway, this,
combined with the early life's work of sign painting has contributed to me
being a type NAZI, (I hope this term doesn't offend anyone, I mean it as a
criticism).
Working
in the scrap booking industry, I have seen HORRIFIC typography, (I refer to it
as ANTI-TYPOGRAPHY, like the ANTI-CHRIST). I've also seen spectacular...Brenda
Walton for example. She has studied typography at very high levels and has her
own font with Adobe. FABULOUS!!!
For
some amazingly designed fonts worth paying money for:
http://www.houseind.com/
http://www.adobe.com/
http://www.fontshop.com/
http://www.veer.com/products/type/
http://www.fontdiner.com/
http://www.letterheadfonts.com/
http://www.emigre.com/fonts.php
http://www.garagefonts.com/
to
name a few.
