Today we covered the history of typography and the evolution of different letterforms, along with their development over the many periods of history. We saw how typography took its roots in traditional handcrafted writing techniques, and then evolved over the ages to a state of mechanical precision, devoid of humanist influence. The painterly calligrapher slowly gave way to the calculating engineer.
The most important task designers face is effective communication. As with the old illuminated manuscripts, all parts of a design should “tell part of the story”. Additional embellishments are distracting and can hinder effective communication. It is also important to consider the world around us and note changes taking place, if we are to continue sending effective messages to people around the world.
