Erik Spiekermann points his uncompromising spear of no-bullshit sagacity at the question “What is the future of typography?”

Find Spiekermann in the wonderful compendium The Designer Says and listen to his fantastic conversation with Debbie Millman.

The history of typography, in a stop-motion animation made of 291 cut-paper letters and 2,454 photographs. Pair with a peek inside the sketchbooks of the world’s best type designers and 10 essential books on typography. 

(↬ swissmiss)

Hand-lettered awesomeness from the notebook of Debbie Millman, maker of amazing things.

Complement with Michio Kaku’s The Universe in a Nutshell. 

Equality Sans – a typeface for human rights, supporting the fight for marriage equality.

Mexico-based designer Alan Betacourt has created some wonderful logotypes for legendary scientists, including Feynman, Galileo, Newton, Einstein, and Darwin. Also available as prints.

Complement with these minimalist posters celebrating pioneering women in science.

(↬ It’s Okay To Be Smart)

A Cat to English translation.

Among the growing number of translations we’ve received, we found it to be no coincidence that we were sent both Hebrew and Arabic translations at nearly the same time. We paired these languages with the hamsa, a non-religious symbol of protection, blessings, power and strength that is recognized across the entire Middle East.

A beautiful calligraphic hamsa version of the Holstee Manifesto, one of 5 timeless manifestos for the creative life, in Hebrew and Arabic by designer Josh Berer, with proceeds benefiting Seeds of Peace.

Gorgeous vintage cover for Atlas of the City of New York, 1891. Complement with how Manhattan got its famous grid.

Cartographer Charles E. Riddiford’s family of typefaces designed in the early 1930s for National Geographic in order to improve the photomechanical reproductive qualities of maps.

Also see this vintage illustrated guide to how we use maps, the history of modern cartography, and some striking visual examples.

(↬ Quipsologies)

“Do what you love and do it often.”

Lovely greeting cards by artist Sean McCabe, based on the famous Holstee Manifesto – one of five essential manifestos for the creative life.

Hand-rolled through a letterpress machine and pressed onto paper derived from 50% elephant poo and 50% recycled paper, wholly biodegradable. 

From a charming, tiny compendium of love quotes by celebrated book designer Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich. Pair with history’s famous aphorism on love.

jtotheizzoe:

A brilliant series of minimalist typographic tributes to scientists and their discoveries by Kapil Ghagat (on Tumblr at bhagatkapil)

Best thing since these minimalist posters celebrating women in science.

Wisdom by Van Gogh, hand-lettered by Lisa Congdon – who has a knack for this sort of thing.

Edward Johnston’s 1916 hand-drawn alphabet for the London Underground, the world’s first subway system, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. 

Bembo’s Zoo - for his daughter’s first Christmas, designer Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich made her a bilingual alphabet book of animals constructed entirely out of the typeface Bembo