Category: links

Capucine typeface released

Capucine Sample

Presenting a wonderful new typeface from Alice Savoie, entitled Capucine, available exclusively from Process Type Foundry. The typeface is available in both traditional format and for use on the web.

Capucine defies traditional categorization, it sits in a genre we are drawn to as users of type: a face with distinct personality able to straddle the worlds of both text and display with ease.

I had the honour of knowing both Alice and Nicole Dotin (from Process Type) in my year at Reading and love that Capucine has finally reached a publication point. Capucine looked beautiful three years ago, but I imagine the perfectionist in Alice wanted everything to be just right. Congrats to both Alice and Process Type on the release. I look forward to using the typeface at some point in the near future.

The Titillium typeface project

Titillium sample

Titillium is an open typographic font and the subject of a didactic course project at Accademia di Belle Arti di Urbino.

The aim of the project is the creation of a collective fonts released under OFL to be promoted and shared through a web platform. Each academic year, a dozen of students are working on the project developing and solving problems. The type designers interested in the amendment or revision of Titillium are invited to cooperate or develop their own variants.

Reverting to Type exhibition

Reverting to Type

The Standpoint Gallery in London is having a letterpress exhibition during the next month or so. The exhibit, curated by Graham Bignell of New North Press and Richard Ardagh, will showcase how the printing technique is being reinvented for modern times.

Reverting to Type aims to highlight the pioneers at the helm of the current resurgence of interest in letterpress; from computer-based designers with a desire to ply a craft with a tactile immediacy that has been lost with moderntechnology, to traditional presses finding a new way to revitalise their design output.

This is definitely on the list of things to do during my last couple of weeks in England. See this pdf release for more details about the show, including the final list of contributors.

On not overreacting to terrorism

Terrorism existed before 9/11, an interesting read from a pilot about the current state of security theatre at airports. Read the first few paragraphs and try to imagine that happening today and what the reaction would be.

In the 1980s we did not overreact. We did not stage ill-fated invasions of distant countries. People did not cease traveling and the airline industry did not fall into chaos. We were lazy in enacting better security, perhaps, but as a country our psychological reaction, much to our credit, was calm, measured and not yet self-defeating.

You might also consider the illustrious words of Philosoraptor regarding terrorism and security.

Godin on laziness

Laziness has changed, it doesn’t just reflect your physical tiredness.

But the new laziness has nothing to do with physical labor and everything to do with fear. If you’re not going to make those sales calls or invent that innovation or push that insight, you’re not avoiding it because you need physical rest. You’re hiding out because you’re afraid of expending emotional labor.

Holographic messaging

Infographic with Leia describing holographic messaging

Continuing with the life imitating science fiction trend, hologram messaging is close to becoming reality. If you happen to have a Nature subscription, you can probably read more about it.

A University of Arizona team says it has devised a system that can make a holographic display appear in another place and update it in near real-time.

In other news, Princess Leia illustration used as infographic for serious article about scientific research.

Antimatter produced

Scientists at CERN have managed to produce and trap antimatter atoms.

Because matter and antimatter annihilate when they meet, the antihydrogen atoms have a very short life expectancy. This can be extended, however, by using strong and complex magnetic fields to trap them and thus prevent them from coming into contact with matter.

As life continues to emulate Star Trek, we are one step closer to solving all future problems by ejecting the warp core.