The world of typography is a fascinating realm, and the latest offering from German design studio Matter Of, titled 'New New Typography', is a bold and thought-provoking exploration of its current state and future possibilities. This design book challenges the reader to question the very foundations of typographic principles, inviting us to embark on a journey of discovery and innovation.
A Minimalist Aesthetic with a Twist
The book's minimalist aesthetic is immediately striking, with black-and-white print and a bold cerulean blue that disrupts the page with squiggles and highlighted text. This design choice is not merely aesthetic; it's a deliberate attempt to make the book look like a textbook that has been creatively marked up with felt-tip markers. The use of six different sans-serif typefaces, which alternate across chapters, adds an ironic layer of questioning to the evolution of typefaces, particularly the evolution of Helvetica and its variants.
Collaborative Endeavors and Historical Context
'New New Typography' is a collaborative effort, featuring nearly 100 contributors, including renowned designers and artists such as Adel Faure, Bye Bye Binary, Dinamo, Farah Fayyad, Man Ray, Source Type, TienMin Liao, and Words of Type. The book takes us on a journey through history, from illustrated typefaces dating back to 1602 to the body-scanning models of modern type design. It delves into Renaissance-era design ideals and quotes László Moholy-Nagy's emphasis on clarity, contrasting it with the beauty-centric approach of ancient writing.
Challenging Established Paradigms
What sets this book apart is its speculative and adventurous nature. It challenges the idea of the modern typographer as merely a creator of typefaces. Instead, it proposes that typographers are active negotiators of political systems, a bold and intriguing concept. The book is not about providing answers but about daring to imagine the future, a future where established paradigms are unsettled and vocabularies are expanded.
A Messy, Unstable Anti-Manual
'New New Typography' is described as a messy and unstable anti-manual, presenting 243 figures and six theoretical proposals. It acknowledges the impossibility of providing a comprehensive overview of typography, instead embracing a speculative and cheeky approach. This book is a call to action for designers and enthusiasts alike, encouraging them to think critically and creatively about the future of typography.
In conclusion, 'New New Typography' is a must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of design and typography. It challenges conventional thinking, encourages collaboration, and celebrates the speculative nature of creative endeavors. As the book's title suggests, it invites us to explore the 'new new' in typography, pushing the boundaries of what we thought we knew and inspiring us to imagine the possibilities of tomorrow.
