Interesting book and exhibition is a textual and visual exploration of the future of typography

Date
22 October 2012

Typography is a bit like offal. There are those who love it, obsess over its finer points and see themselves at the vanguard of an evangelical mission to convince others of its qualities. But there are others who don’t get it, don’t really want to think about it but are happy to eat sausages when the occasion arises. Where was I? No idea, anyway the point is as with every facet of the so-called communication arts, the digital revolution has changed and is continuing to change everything.

Camberwell Press have produced an interesting book Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography which grew out of a series of workshops held at various London locations. Not only does the book document a number of interviews and conversations with academics, students and practitioners it also includes essays, histories and some fascinating visual responses to the questions posed from artists and designers like Fraser Muggeridge and Sam Winston.

These went on show recently at the Kemistry Gallery curated by this is art where they acted as neat extrapolations of the weighty ideas expressed within the title. It might not be everybody’s cup of offal, but anyone whose craft revolves around typography might want to be aware of this useful contribution to an important debate. As Sergio Polano writes in the book’s foreword: “We aren’t perhaps fully aware of all the implications of this new age. Our mind is waiting, but never have letter designers had such powerful tools in their hands.”

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Garry Mouat: Future Type Map for Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography

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Fraser Muggeridge: Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography

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Brasilica from Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography

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A history of the alphabet from Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography

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Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography exhibition shot

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Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography exhibition shot

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Paul Hardman: Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography

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Kokoro & Moi: Finnish Design Yearbook

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Sam Winston: Crossword for Whatever Next: A Discourse on Typography

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About the Author

Rob Alderson

Rob joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in July 2011 before becoming Editor-in-Chief and working across all editorial projects including itsnicethat.com, Printed Pages, Here and Nicer Tuesdays. Rob left It’s Nice That in June 2015.

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