a girl named fred

matthew butterick is an la-based, civil litigation lawyer who, prior to getting into law, worked as a digital typeface designer (with a degree from harvard, natch). he has put together a wonderful web-based typography guide for lawyers, which you can find here.

why is typography important for lawyers? here’s what matthew has to say..

When you speak to a judge, do you stand at the lectern, eyes cast downward, and read from a script in a monotone? No, of course not. To maintain the judge’s attention during your argument, you change the speed and volume of your delivery; you gesture; you extemporize. You do this because you don’t merely want to be heard—you want to persuade. The text matters, but so does the presentation.

So it is on the printed page. The text matters, but if that’s all that mattered, then everything could be set in 12-point Times New Roman. And that would be the equivalent of staring at the lectern.

Typography is always important because presentation is always important. Just like a gesture can punctuate a point in court, good typography can reinforce the meaning of your text. Good typography helps your reader move beyond your words and into your meaning. Conversely, bad typography can mislead your reader and undermine your meaning.

yep, this poster by ryan brinkerhoff made me laugh out loud! and maybe turn a titch green with envy…

seen on for print only.

here’s a great short video, hosted on vimeo, from erik spiekermann. yay typography!

this post has some terrific presentation design tips based on designer-like thinking…

But what, if anything, can regular people — teachers, students, business people of all types — learn from designers and from thinking like a designer? And what of more specialized professions? Can medical doctors, scientists, researchers, and engineers, and other specialists in technical fields benefit in anyway by learning how a graphic designer or interaction designer thinks? Is there something designers, either through their training or experience, know that we don’t?

garr reynolds (he blogs about issues related to professional presentation design) thinks there is. i’ll summarize the 11 lessons here, but you really should read the full post for the rationale behind each of them.

1. embrace constraints

2. practice restraint

3. adopt the beginner’s mind

4. leave your ego at the door

5.  focus on the experience of the design

6. become a master storyteller (LOVE this one! and totally agree)

7. think communication, not decoration

8. obsess about ideas, not tools

9. clarify your intention

10. sharpen your vision and curiosity and learn from the lessons around you

11. learn all the rules and when and why to break them

this vintage-look masking tape from etsy shop nothing elegant is just mouth-watering!

it’s made from japanese washi paper. i love it!

first seen on sub-studio design blog.

if bringhurst’s elements of typographic style has only whetted your appetite for more, you might want to check out this lovely little typographic desk reference, by theodore rosendorf, with a foreword from ellen lupton.

these t-shirts from studio on fire are t-riffic! (ugh, yes, i just wrote that on the internet!)

the sublime madeleine peyroux. love her!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkjjrdZemzk

check out this new text typeface from jos buivenga… calluna. i’m really liking it… especially the ligatures (look at that g i combo… gorgeous!). i swoon over ligatures!

calluna is available at myfonts.com. the book (regular) weight is free (thx jos!). the 7 other weights are a very affordable $21.95 each.

first seen on i love typography.