Imprimatur
Censorship in the GDR Officially, no book in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) could be published without the state’s prior consent, which practically amounted to a form of pre-censorship. This control of the media was, however, euphemistically called “Appraisal” and “Approval” rather than “Censorship”.
Industria
Decorative geometry for titlesThe British graphic designer and type designer Neville Brody was the art director of the British magazine The Face from 1983 to 1987. His Industria typeface was created at that time and was used for headings in the magazine from 1984.
Initials
Beautiful first lettersOrnamental letters that introduce a book, mark off chapters or take up an entire page as a form of jewellery are something of a rarity in today’s world of books.
Johnston’s Railway Type
A font for London’s local transport systemThe Underground Group, operators of the London underground rail network, needed a typeface for informational signs that would not be mistaken for advertising. At the same time – thus the conception of the responsible manager Frank Pick – the typeface should unify and strengthen the brand’s public image.
Journal
The A-Z of industrialisationJournal refers to the diary in which businessmen and -women (Trade, Factory) record all transactions as part of their bookkeeping, allocating items either to debit or credit. Entering income and expenditure opposite one another results in the profit and loss account (Capital).
Kleopatra
Labyrinthine display typefaceKleopatra is a typeface by the German graphic designer Erhard Kaiser that emerged from a 1985 ideas competition for new display typefaces. Kaiser submitted seven entries to the competition and took first place with his typographic homage to the famous ancient Egyptian queen.
Korean type printing
Pioneering technology of the lost formThe first experiments using movable type made of clay and later of wood began in China in the 11th century. The use of metal letters is known from 1234 onwards in Korea.
Languages of the world
The glorious variety of human communicationCapacity for language – the varied and nuanced output of sounds by the anatomically complex interplay of the throat, mouth, nostils, gums, lips and tongue – is one of the most significant unique characteristics of humans. Linguistic communication occurred relatively early in the development of civilisation. Anthropologists believe that languages have been around for roughly 100,000 years and that they came to exist in their current form at the latest 40,000 years ago as a result of an enormous leap in technological and cultural development.
Learning to read
Reading aidsThe origins of the first written characters can be found in images. Pictures, signs and symbols can help to communicate textual content to those with both developed reading skills and those with no acquired literacy, in some cases acting as a replacement medium for the learner. Long before they learn to read for meaning, children are capable of understanding situations, images and pictograms.
Learning to write
Basic education for writing culturesWriting is a cultural technique, not an ability we are born with. Nevertheless, the ability to learn is with us from the cradle, and so we work hard and with patience to acquire the skill of writing. Gaining a command of writing implements is a process in which we exercise our fine motor skills intensively and it is something that we need in many different contexts in the world we live in.
