A weekly shot of typography news and notes, chock full of friendly conversation on a range of topics that go far beyond type. Perfect for anyone interested in type, graphic design, branding, art, creativity, or friendly conversations. Co-hosted by Joshua Dick and Kyle Read.
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What kind of year has it been in type‽ Josh and Kyle have much to reflect on from 2024, and even though they try to do it with a chill vibe, it's hard to ignore all the energy coming from the type world. Kyle can't quite pin down how 2024 made him feel, but he finds the strength to forgive all those unnecessary ligatures. Meanwhile, Josh identifies a Times New Roman assassin and thinks we might be getting a little too creative with our minisites. And in the end, the two can't agree on whether or not 2025 will be full of weirdness or not, I guess it's up to all of us to find out...Links to everything discussed in this episode:Place from Commercial TypeExact from Signal TypeValve from Pangram PangramSupport the show
Have you ever wanted to find a font specimen underneath the tree on Christmas morning‽ Then you might just be...a type person. With gifting season upon us, it is once again time for Josh and Kyle to bring you their favorite physical media from indie foundries and shops, ranging from type that is cuddly to tools that facilitate play to a hat that might just help you get lucky at the bar. And we're really into pencils on this podcast if you're into that sort of thing too. Josh also has a very Grinchy present for Kyle this year, and won't be waiting until Arbor Day to give it to him...Online type shops:Letterform Archive ShopGood Type ShopLetterperson ShopHamilton Wood Type Museum ShopDraw Down BooksCounter Print BooksPresent & Correct Type specimens for your favorite type nerd:Sharp Type Volume OneA Concise Synopsis of the Commercial Type Library as of June 2024After Michaux Type SpecimenOtto: A Tale of a Boy and a Tail — ABC DinamoKelli Anderson BooksGift ideas for that last minute (or Arbor Day) gift:Typotheque Strokes ToteSpecimen Cap — Grilli TypeNebulith Throw Blanket — Space Type Co.Alphabet Runner Stamps — Present & CorrectLetter Love Postcard Set — Letterform ArchiveZuzana Licko 'g' Throw Blanket — Letterform ArchiveKarl Martens 2025 Calendar — Draw DownUniversal Stencil Plate — Draw DownSupport the show
What's your starchiest font‽ It's Turkey Time again people, and we have once again laid out a five-course meal of our favorite fonts from 2024! So get ready to devour gorgeous backslants, crunchy fonts with no curves, and New Jersey license plate letters that say "I'm walking here!". You'll wash it all down with tipsy mono italics and finish up with everyone's favorite anarchical type masterpiece. Whether you clean your plate or not, there's plenty for everyone. May it never be said that the Interrogang table is not inclusive of weirdos…Your 2024 Thanksgiving Day spread:Sharp Earth from Sharp TypeMD Lorien from Mass DriverOhno Backslant from the Ohno Type DrawerGlammo from Signal TypeNaN Rage from NaNEuchre from Okay TypeCeraph from Sharp TypePiet from TypeMatesMichaeux from Plain FormVanity from Order Type FoundryArmond from Badson Type FoundrySupport the Interrogang for as little as $3 a month and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! These episodes are all thanks to your support!Support the show
Why do we think of neutrality as a dirty word‽ Josh and Kyle highlight what makes neutral typefaces integral to the lifeblood of modern type design, both creatively and economically. Now, it may sound like such a conversation might be pretty middle-of-the-road (ya know, neutral), but a lot of ground is covered here. Does the specter of Helvetica loom over all neutral sans designs? When should we look to remove cultural inspirations from our designs? How do serifs fit into the world of neutrality? Should you do a rollout from a moving airplane? Why is Josh still on this podcast? All good questions...Links to everything that we discussed in this episode:Baumer Grotesk from Erkin KaramemetBooton from Displaay Type FoundryAirport from Revolver TypeDegular, Retail, and Camelion from Ohno Type CoSharp Earth from Sharp TypeBig Issue from Blast FoundryThe Recast Collection from Dalton MaagGamay from Darden StudioMelun from Lift TypeParamount from Production TypeCortese Sans from Mark Van LeewenIcona Serif from Suitcase TypeGT Pantheon from Grilli TypeGT Flaire from Grilli TypeCoFo Holz from Contrast FoundryNeutraljuice, Neutraljuice, Neutraljuice!Support the Interrogang for as little as $3 a month and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! These episodes are all thanks to your support!Support the show
What fonts are best for your scariest messages‽ It's the annual Halloween episode and the guys have unearthed a plethora of fonts to make your skin crawl. From fonts that just returned from the torture chamber, to sweet fonts with a dark side, to plant-like alien protuberances, it's a ghoulish typographic menu. Then, Josh has prepared four Halloween short stories, each requiring Kyle to conjure up a font to truly get those goosebumps working. So gather 'round a campfire for this one folks, and when you hear the clown's laughter, don't linger...Links to every terror-ific font discussed in this episode:Synch by James Plattner on Future FontsMarjoree from ShowMeFontsVery Bauble from LetterrorCascorro 18 from Manufacturas Tipográficas MadrileñasEurocat from MaxiTypeMacabre from James Coleman on Future FontsNostra Stream from Plain FormGlob from ResistenzaSupport the Interrogang for as little as $3 a month and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! These episodes are all thanks to your support!Support the show
What makes for a good name‽ In this very special episode of the Interrogang, there's reason to celebrate as Josh and his wife welcome their first child into the world. So, we're throwing a font-themed baby shower! Kyle takes the reins in this episode and devizes baby shower mini-games, naming challenges, and (maybe not so helpful) friendly suggestions for baby names inspired by the type world itself. We even have a special guest to join in on the fun: our very own editor Andrew finally comes out from behind the mixing board and in front of the mic. And as much as we wanted to, we couldn't bring ourselves to title the episode “Quirky Spermo”. Didn't seem like a good parenting decision…Links to typefaces and things mentioned in this episode: Extraset's ES ParkMonotype's Global Type Use SurveyGT PantheonSupport the Interrogang for as little as $3 a month and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! These episodes are all thanks to your support!Support the show
What does Google know about what fonts are made of‽ Josh and Kyle turn once again, despite their better judgement, to Google in everyone's favorite Interrogame to see how well Google's AI can answer your questions about fonts. It's a mixed bag, but once you listen to the episode you might just learn that gothic fonts are from the Gothic era, that modern fonts attended leadership training, and that Mr. Rogers had some enemies. Google may not always wax philosophical on type, but Kyle sure can (for *most* people)...Links to everything that we discussed in this episode:Gatwick Collection from Pangram PangramSource of the word "cromulent" for any non-Simpsons fans out thereSupport the Interrogang for as little as $3 a month and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! These episodes are all thanks to your support!Support the show
How old is too old for a font‽ There's a lot of discussion around the age of a font in this episode, as we tour recent modern medieval designs that don't look the way you think they do, question the value of fonts released decades ago, and wonder why we continue to put up with Papyrus. Josh is all about calligraphy, and Kyle has found that gravestone under a depressing tree glyph you were always looking for. Once the judges scores were tallied up, though, it's clear: Josh put on a podcasting masterclass...Remember: Respect your elders and freshness counts!Links to everything that we discussed in this episode:The calligraphic tour:Pahin from Blaze TypeTradition from Bold DecisionsSharp Roman from Sharp TypeElizabeth Goodspeed's Heralding the ancient and otherworldly charm of Future Medieval graphics on It's Nice That Recent medieval releases:Mancine from Herzberg Design Co. Clavichord from DJR's Font of the Month clubNarwa designed by Lewis McGuffie and released on Future FontsGil Modern from CAST FoundryFulgora from SudtiposEmeritus from Blaze TypeNeue Heitz from Pretend FoundryProof of WordsCovenantGarnierAlaraLimerickThe Bottle Dance from Fiddler on the RoofSupport the Interrogang for as little as $3 a month and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! These episodes are all thanks to your support!Support the Show.
Are we entering an entirely new universe of font genres‽ It's becoming harder and harder to classify genres in typography, and many of the newer releases are just exacerbating that difficulty. Whether it's finding whimsy in your text serifs where it doesn't belong, a dot font that abandons all conscious typographic reality, or a new-fangled approach we're calling a "multi-genre" font, new fonts are as alive and creative and confusing as they've ever been. That is, unless Kyle succeeds at taking us back to Ancient Rome...Links to everything that we discussed in this episode:Sylvain Boyer explains the story behind the Olympic logoOlympic typefaces through historyThe Variable font designed for Nike from Pizza TypefacesGramercy from DinamoGamuth from Production Type NaN Tragedy from NaNColumba from East of RomeScatterplot from Cast Type FoundrySome examples of what we think are "multi-genre":Arsen from TypofounderieNotice from Erkin KaramemetTrust from MCKL TypeArticles about "Infillism":Emigre: Time and Time Again on the Fontstand BlogResponse to this Infillism essay by Klim Type foundry's Kris Sowersby: Welcome to the Infill Font FoundryResponse to these essays by Stephen Coles on Typographica: Rejecting Infillism and Waterfalls of MediocrityAnd we assume that you certainly don't remember that Armour Hot Dog jingleArmour Fonts, the fonts kids love to bite!Support the Interrogang for as little as $3 a month and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! These episodes are all thanks to your support!Support the Show.
How adventurous can a big corporate font rebrand really be‽ Obviously, there's a lot of room for improvement there and Josh has a bold new direction for Chipotle to go. The guys also talk Olympic logos, handwritten fonts that make you feel seen, a foundry's equivalent of the Burger King Kid's Club, and the trials and tribulations of font pairing. And Fonty McFontface has a cool new type release that you should definitely check out...The all cat version of this podcast can be found on S-purr-tifiy.Links to everything that we discussed in this episode:A writeup on some past Olympic logosAll the past Summer Olympic logos from the great sportslogos.netCornbread from MaxiTypeProduction Type Font PlaylistsRed Hat and Redaction from MCKL TypePremier, TypeTogether's distribution serviceTypotheque ClubSpotify MixEarly Sans and Late Serif from Character TypeBadson Type FoundrySupport the Interrogang for as little as $3 a month and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! These episodes are all thanks to your support!Support the Show.
Did you miss us‽ It's been a while and we've got a lot of ground to cover to make up for lost time. This episode has font help for indie comic designers, football jersey oopsies, and a serif wave crashing to shore. We also explore the concept of a juice cleanse for font foundries and introduce a font release that makes us question our very existence. It's a weird one, but we're into weird...Links to everything that we discussed in this episode:Stringer from Order TypeMD Lorien from Mass Driver Columba from East of RomeNaN Serf from NaN Octave from Faire TypeIndoor Kid from Font of the Month ClubSharp Type Phase 2Sharp Type Volume OneMan City Club Jersey KitForvm from Coppers & BrassesMichaux from Plain FormThe Proof&Co. 2023 Annual ReportSupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Support the Show.
“Where are all the new Interrogang episodes‽” you, our gentle listener, may be asking yourself. Here's a quick programming update and a brief trip on the Hogwarts Express. Support the Show.
Are all type rules meant to be broken‽ We take you back to our convo about the pros and cons of challenging the so-called "rules" of good type design in this Rewind episode.We reference the type used in the credits of some films and TV shows a few times in this episode: Loki, The Favourite, and Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell.Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Where is all the artistic feedback that we so crave‽ Tech Master Andrew sends us back to our discussion from Season 2 in which the guys wonder how we are supposed to develop as designers in this criticism-filled world we live in.Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Can you tell the difference between a font description and a description of a bottle of wine‽ Kyle was put to this ridiculous test with his type reputation on the line. Hear how well he fared in this Rewind episode.Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
What's next for type in 2024‽ We're all about FUN this episode (finally), and with a new year rapidly approaching, Josh and Kyle look back on what this past year has been like for independent type and make some hopeful predictions for the future. It also seems like as good a time as any to clear the air and start fresh, so Josh tells us why he doesn't need your ampersand and Kyle will allow a free font, if only to prove he's not crotchety. It was a huge year, the universe of indie type was ever-expanding, and we tried to cram it all into this one episode. Did we succeed? Nah, but we all need room to do better next year...Font releases highlighted in this episode:Asoma from James PlattnerBurghi from CASTHour from 205TFSupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Who will help guide Santa's sleigh tonight‽ It's our annual Gift Guide review, and although Josh has had too much eggnog, Kyle the Red-Nosed Reindeer is here to help finish out your holiday shopping list. There are pencils that will encourage you to sketch more, apparel for your naked designer friends, tools for adding typography into your next woodworking project, and more than enough globby holiday spirit. And Josh responds to a fan letter with "Yes Virginia, There is a Perfect Font" to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas: loving the fonts you're with...Happy Holidays!Font releases highlighted in this episode:Synt from ABC DinamoEsperanza from Labor & WaitEase from Studio Feixen Calyx from Blaze TypeFrom Santa's Type Toy Shop:Alphabet Keytags from Colophon"Fully Charged" Pencils from PSTL Jokker Cards from Displaay TypeLetraset-Inspired Sticker Sheets from Toko Type"You Live and You Kern" Sweatshirt from Goodtype 'Footnotes' Socks from PSTL .NOTDEF Glyph I Love You from Bastarda TypeShift Happens by Marcin WicharyLetraset, the DIY Typography Revolution by Adrian ShaughnessyMono is the New Black from Counter Print ABC Connector Plates & Fonts from ABC DinamoBlockface Kit from Open Press ProjectRails & Tiles from Shop at Matter Typography options for house numbers from Door No. Co.Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
How much typography can one person possibly consume‽ We intend to find out this week as we foodify some of our favorite releases from this year and fill our plates with typefaces, all in the name of being thankful for this year's font harvest. We've got entrees that will get you toned, starchy fonts that remind us of the power of potatoes, cool and refreshing display types, and sugar-coated fonts to round out your meal and your year. With such an incredible array, we enter the holiday season typographically satiated, overstuffed, and maybe encountering the slightest bit of Regrets... Font releases highlighted in this episode:Qommodore from Production Type Nicola from Commercial Type Minetto from Dalton Maag RST Thundra and RST Mazumbá from Reset Type Your 2023 Thanksgiving spread:Arbale from TypofonderieTerza from Commercial TypeOctavia from Flavia Zimbardi & Tida TepFugit from Counter FormsForager from Overlap TypeGamuth from Production TypeOzik Soft from Nuform TypeAligne from Leinster TypeMD IO from Mass DriverGlazier from PositypeKablammo from Vectro TypeSupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Can an iconic brand also be a dynamic one‽ This episode starts with a good font with which to sell hugs, a new release that also serves as a marketing exercise, and two handwriting fonts, only one of which is born of hand writing. Then, Josh has to rant about how the ever-changing NBA jerseys are examples of poor branding, and even though Kyle may not exactly disagree, there's a chance the guys are simply behind the times. But at least they are partners in confusion, and we can all agree that good branding has a through line and Pepsi reeks of desperation...Font releases highlighted in this episode:Ozik Soft from Nuform TypeScatch from Tipographies Dash from Typotheque Superscript from PositypeSupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Did you know that font releases come in all sizes‽ Of course you did, you've been listening to this podcast for almost three years now. The releases keep getting bigger and bigger this week, and we start by pulling Gantry out of Ohno Type Co's dangerous Drawer, then we get old-timey with Ephemera Font's Osbert, followed by the jive-inducing Name Mono from ArrowType, and finishing with the behemoth that is Sharp Type's Sharp Grotesk Global. Now If we could only get Kyle to start paying attention to any of this, we might be on to something...Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
What are the best fonts for horrifying candy creations‽ This is our annual Halloween episode and Josh has the mad scientist credentials to meet the occasion. He and Art Director Ygor introduce you to the next generation of Halloween candy and the fonts they will use to sell them. The guys also discuss what haunts them in type, ancient incantations to rid us all of a particular typeface's curse, a font that is already filling its Piehole, and the reason Kyle is never stylin'. So grab a potato sack of Novaburst and give in to the insanity, your Trick or Treat bag might get a little heavy this year...Font releases highlighted in this episode:Viroqua from Mark Simonson Studio Done from Ohno Type Co. Arsen from TypofonderieForager from Overlap Type FoundryFitzroy from Cantrell Type FoundrySpell from Lift Type Fonts perfect for new and horrifying Halloween candy:Caraque from Dalton MaagGordian Kapitalen from TypothequeAlterego from Bold MondayForno Wild Waffle from Pizza TypefacesMegazoid from Font of the Month ClubSupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Have you ever considered the font needs of monsters‽ It's a monster mash (or rather, job fair) for this Rewind episode in which we design business cards for all your favorite Halloween ghosts and ghouls. And, unfortunately, for Fluffles...And here are the fonts we recommend for the employment-seeking monster in your life:Oroban from Blaze TypeEhrie by Blast Foundry on Future FontsOhno Casual Light from Ohno Type Co.This Man This Monster from Comic Book FontsNeptun from la Bolde VidaPuffin Display Soft Black from Bold MondayFrancesco from Production TypeDapifer Stencil Bold from Darden StudioPlakato Paper Pro Regular Italic from UnderwareChee Pickles from Ohno Type Co.Comic Code by Toshi OmagariSupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Why is this podcast so obsessed with the names of fonts‽ Because it's important, that's why! (And fun!) This time, Kyle challenges Josh to come up with his own name for fonts, both real and imagined, to explore the thought process behind how a font gets its name. Turns out, naming a font is quite a journey; in this episode alone we have Chonkboards, we get a little Smoishii, there are Spooky Actions, and even some Tragedy. Is Josh up to the challenge? Ah, what a Cloisterfuch...Font releases highlighted in this episode:Kit from Darden Studio Kukulkan from Sudtipos Anormal from Fred Fonts on Future Fonts Leopardo from 205TF VTC Tre from Vocal TypeSupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
How badly do we all need to expand our type vocabulary‽ This episode starts with Skeleton fonts, a typeface that brings the glom, creative pixelation, and the Goofus and Gallant of font releases, and then the guys rank the definitive* list of type words, phrases, and concepts that everyone should know. Josh just won't let you forget about Blackletter fonts and Kyle is all about those ligatures, but it turns out you probably won't impress people by being able to tell the difference between a dash and a hyphen. And then the 90s came around (heavy sigh)...*Absolutely not definitiveSupport the Words of Type Kickstarter here!Font releases highlighted in this episode:FT Lambert from FrosTypeRoutine from Blaze Type Kyoshi from Alanna Munro Lardent and Dopple from Colophon FoundrySupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to TypeCraft, our sister podcast, for hour long interviews and visual companions from some of the industry leaders in type!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Need more type podcasts in your life‽ We've got you covered! We're expanding our podcasting output with a new show: TypeCraft! TypeCraft is a podcast mini-series with interviews conducted by our very own Kyle Read, where we will hear from some of the biggest names in type. Give this episode a listen to hear who we've got lined up for Season One. Then stick around to solve the mystery of why you've only been listening to Josh for all these years...Subscribe to TypeCraft to get the full-length interviews and visual companions!Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
How much could an agent help freelance designers find work‽ Josh and Kyle put on a suit and tie this week and tackle some business topics. Could tying cost-of-living data to font prices be the way of the future? And what would a world with type design agents look like? Along the way, Josh wants to start a giant game of font naming telephone and Kyle is freelance Robocop. As if there is any question who the weird ones are...Font releases highlighted in this episode:Doumbar from Atipo Foundry Basilar from R-Typography Align from Commercial Type And check out the pricing model from Counter Forms here.Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
How did all these foundries keep so busy this summer‽ There's so much to cover in this episode: the concept of social kerning, new foundry Adotbelow's explorations of multiculturalism in type, CSTM's Backslanted defying the laws of typographic gravity, Arbale serving as Typofonderie's Avengers, the hints of Helvetica in Typotheque's Münchenstein, the orderly bounciness of Smilena from Melvas Type, and how Colophon's Parent inspired revolution out of Josh. And you'll never guess which one of these fonts we're going to use to sell our asbestos...Support the Interrogang, if you are able, and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Do you have any bad habits you need to break‽ Josh and Kyle are back in the habit of podcasting, so they wonder how much the traits you develop as you grow up might hold you back as a professional. You probably don't need to unlearn everything you know, because sometimes, your habits just make you who you are. Kyle can't finish what he starts and Josh's arm movements are barely human, but their neural pathways may not allow for much better...Ten points for Hufflepuff! Font releases highlighted in this episode:Kibitz from Colophon MD IO from Mass-Driver Aligne from Leinster Type Spades from Order Type Foundry Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Aren't we all a snob about something‽ Well, we tried our best not to be too obnoxious about it in this Rewind episode about having strong personal preferences around type.Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the show
How many stars does a sensible serif deserve anyway‽ We return to the pros and cons of a widespread font rating system in this week's Rewind.Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the show
Would you snap your fingers and make 50% of all fonts disappear‽ Will Josh or Kyle put on the gauntlet, or will they send in the Avengers to save the fonts?Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the show
What does it mean to pursue perfection in type design‽ It's summer so maybe we should just hit the pool, but we decided to tackle some big type topics first. There are designers out there working to make the perfect font right now, and maybe Jony Ive's LoveFrom Serif found it, but is it worth the time and energy? The guys think through nobility and ego and legacy and motivation and Dr. Seuss tubas and ultimately find it is akin to a quest for the Holy Grail of fonts: an epic journey that might just be foolish. But, as Kyle reminds us, the true Grail is the fonts you made along the way... Alright, we've hit enough tennis balls at you, go jump in the pool!Font releases highlighted in this episode:Coastal Positype Brilliante from Black FoundryTwogether Sans from Sudtipos Click here for more information on TypeTogether's Primarium project! (NOTE: the project is growing all the time, the number of countries and typefaces involved have already grown from time of recording)Click here for the FastCompany article referenced in this episode.Support the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Can you tell the difference between Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence‽ Special guest Lindsey Laseter joins the guys this week in Part 3 of our AI series to share her perspective on what AI means to the design world. She leaves the guys actually feeling all warm and fuzzy about it. Then Josh throws font descriptions at Lindsey and Kyle and they have to guess if a human wrote it or if ChatGPT wrote it. It was...surprisingly difficult and left Kyle thoroughly embarrassed. AI might be writing font descriptions sooner than you think. But as long as the lawyers from Friends don't come after us, we'll be ok...Now, That's Friends!Font releases highlighted in this episode:Hardcore from Public Type CoFo Kabeltouw from Contrast FoundrySupport the Interrogang and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
How can we keep up with all these new fonts‽ Well, we cram three weeks of our favorites into one episode, that's how! The guys discuss Commercial Type's Terza at Editor speed, the delightful refinement of Glazier from Positype, and the out-of-this-world influences of Production Type's Paramount. There is also plenty about whether NaN needed the aid of elves to complete the unconvential NaN Metrify superfamily, how Brutalist Aerospace seems like a fascinating oxymoron with the Air Collection from Pangram Pangram, and just how lazy some letters are allowed to be in Overlap Type Foundry's Outgo. But, please, leave the puns to the professionals... Support the Interrogang, if you are able, and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Does it matter where your inspiration comes from‽ We love hearing about where great design ideas come from, but the guys find that your personal design journey can be just as fun when you just do it your way and don't feel obligated to explain your creative decisions. That said, type designers can find inspiration in just about anything, which explains their love of time traveling fonts, creating "a better Plantin", and manhole covers. So sneeze into a napkin and see what font comes out... Font releases highlighted in this episode:Kensington from Fort FoundryMartina Plantijn from Klim Type FoundryAro from General Type StudioWeave from ColophonSupport the Interrogang, if you are able, and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter or The Concierge Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
How much is Apple dictating the future of typography‽ Whether it's more 3D type, worrying about your font's weight, or making sure there is always a variable option, there could be big changes coming to the type world. Or not. We're not quite sure what the future holds, but at least there are exciting font newsletters to fill our time with...Proof&Co. releases highlighted in this episode:The Concierge NewsletterSupport the Interrogang, if you are able, and help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Support the show
Why is it so hard to book Etaoin Shrdlu‽ Well, we got Doug Wilson instead, who joins the podcast this week to tell us all about his upcoming Linotype Book Project, documenting the history of the famous typesetting machine and its outsized impact on printing, journalism, and society. You can subscribe to this fantastic project at https://linotypebook.com. We know you'll want to, we don't even need to use a Jedi mind trick, move along, move along…Font releases highlighted in this episode:Solfa from R-Typography Waverse from Typeji on Future Fonts Keyframe from Plain FormLadna and Ladna Faux from the new Typokompanii Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Support the show
How sinful can a font even be‽ This episode smells a bit of sulfur as the guys dream up designs for fonts named after the Seven Deadly Sins. This "tour-de-sins" overcomes its slothfulness to bring us drippy descenders, smoky serpents, and fonts that look like Spider-Man villains. Kyle might be the least wrathful person you'll ever meet and Josh's biggest sin turns out to be using the word "chonky" too much. And we didn't even get to original sin... Font releases highlighted in this episode:Socko from Overlap Type Foundry Herbik from the new Counter Forms Miniature from the new Off Type Exciting announcements:Typotheque has published an enormous new collection of Georgian FontsGet your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Support the show
What are the most "flawless" typefaces out there‽ Well, it's subjective, but type nerd Kyle shares his list for the can't-go-wrong, no-notes independent fonts out there. The guys also dig deep into whether new tech in type constitutes cheating in your design process, or maybe it's just progress, hard to say. And you'll have to listen to hear who Kyle refers to as the "Monstars" of the type world, our first (of hopefully many) ever reference to Space Jam...Kyle's "flawless" fonts:KnockoutMillerCanelaGet your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Support the show
What does a font go through to become a "mutant"‽ This is the question inspired by Signal Type Foundry's release of Reckham this week, and that's not all! We also discuss the affordability of Kimura Sans from Plau Design, Nova Type Foundry's "whipped-cream dollopy" Baga, why Octavia from Flavia Zimbardi and Tida Tep is the Ethel Merman of fonts, and how the liscensing news about The Freight Collection is big in more ways than one. But still, it doesn't look like any of these fonts will get to join the X-Men... Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! But if that's not in your budget, never fear, our episodes will always be freely available wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show
How can type design benefit from advancements in AI‽ Kyle's here to tell you how, and whether it's doing the kerning for you, writing your specimen copy, or inspiring new genre mash-ups, Artificial Intelligence might just lead you to the best unpaid intern you've ever had. Then the guys do some soul-searching and identify their "glyph essence". Kyle needs to say "no" more often while Josh has more to say but doesn't want to be a bother...Signed,№ & *Font releases highlighted in this episode:Vitruv Collection from Studio Rene Bieder Robin from Colophon Foundry Joc Display by Sabina Kipara on Future FontsScribo from Underware Foundry Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer!Support the show
How big of a threat is the oncoming AI revolution to type design‽ Well, type nerds, it's hard to say. Josh and Kyle assess the threat level that Artificial Intelligence poses to type designers and find that they're actually less worried about it than everyone else seems to be. Kyle is downright positive about its inspirational impact (surprise, surprise) and Josh thinks cheerleaders are better suited for giving you letters than AI currently is. This episode also includes strong, aggressive stencils, requests for italic handshakes, and a helpful start on your Catcher in the Rye essay... Font releases highlighted in this episode:Tonos from Black FoundryCoFo Sona from Contrast FoundryRillus from FormagariBradley VTG Stencil from ASTypeRelais Display from Blaze Type Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! But if that's not in your budget, never fear, our episodes will always be freely available wherever you get your podcasts.
Some fonts are more than what they seem, aren't they‽ This week, Kyle takes us on a journey through some recent font releases that may seem unassuming at first, but require a double take, like R Typography's Picaresk, a blocky grot that walks the line between a 19th-century Egyptian look and a 1930s Great Gatsby feel. Or the once in-house Onsite from Sociotype, a font so beloved by the foundry that they decided to share it with the world. Or Pizza Typefaces' Hop, which could be rounded, or straight, or straight-rounded, or rounded-straight. There were also some major collection extensions this week with exciting new styles: Yuni Grotesque from Rudiger on Future Fonts and ABC Laica Mono from Dinamo. And as a bonus for listening to the episode, you'll get to hear Josh recite a type-themed version of a Hamlet soliloquy, lucky you... Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! But if that's not in your budget, never fear, our episodes will always be freely available wherever you get your podcasts.
Ready to play along with some Type Jeopardy‽ Josh and Kyle each play host and contestant in this round, with clues coming from three type-themed categories: Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Catch Me 'Ser'if You Can, and Shared Names. Josh thinks there are such things as "Yielding Serifs" and Kyle has gone insane listening to the Jeopardy theme all week, just to win fake money. It all ends with Tech-Master Andrew trying to stump the guys with video game font trivia. There's much to learn from this episode, ranging from font styles decreed by God to the cast of Gilligan's Island, so buckle up! Oh, and their names were Mr. and Mrs. Howell...Font releases highlighted in this episode:Avril from Blaze Type Indicate Mono from Jonas TypeVilaage from Fred Fonts on Future Fonts Get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! But if that's not in your budget, never fear, our episodes will always be freely available wherever you get your podcasts.
Care to join us on a typographic journey through time‽ The past week's type releases give us a chance to do just that with Ohno Type Co's art-deco inspired (and perhaps worrisomely named) Regrets; the updated, expanded, and neato Netto from TypeMates; a modernist take on the historical Clarendon with Studio Rene Bieder's Stakkat; and a retro, baseball-inspired Tuscan serif with Dinger from Dingbat Co. Is all this time travel even possible? Well, we and Letteror can Neither Confirm Nor Deny, but we can tell you inky variable fonts might be leading us to a bold, new type world. Man, with all this going on, we haven't had time to deal with our font ennui... Click here to get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Click here to subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! But if that's not in your budget, never fear, our episodes will always be freely available wherever you get your podcasts.
What's wrong with selling your font as one that can do it all‽ The guys worry that you can oversell the usefulness of your fonts, and thus hurt your actual sales. Can a font fulfill the dream of being "one-size-fits-all" for your needs or does that just make it boring, and perhaps, a liar? Josh also rants about how overused the word "workhorse" has become and Kyle calls for an end to its use. Oh, and the new fonts this week give us some beefy Light weights, erect font posture, and inspiration to knit some truly ugly sweaters... Font releases highlighted in this episode:Manner from Colophon FoundryMeyer from Frostype Gamuth from Production Type Knit Grotesk from Nouvelle Noire Words banned from the Interrogang for being overused:AuthenticityArtisanBespokeWorkhorseGet your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Support the Interrogang, if you are able, to help us expand what Proof&Co. and the Interrogang have to offer! But if that's not in your budget, never fear, our episodes will always be freely available wherever you get your podcasts.
Did the Big Apple make a big mistake‽ Josh and Kyle are in a New York state of mind this week when they review the new "We Heart NYC" campaign. New York City had the chance to make it here, but instead chose to make it anywhere, and the guys are not impressed. Kyle suggests some New York-based type designers and foundries who could have given the rebrand a better local flair and Josh pitches a typography-based Seinfeld episode. Guess this is what happens when you are a city that never sleeps...Font releases highlighted in this episode:Ginka from Lift Type Discotack from Blaze Type CoFo Gothic from Contrast Foundry Fonts you can turn to for your New York-based branding:Name Sans from Arrow TypeSöhne from Klim Type Foundry LaFarge from Typetanic FontsNYC Typewriter from Scott Vander ZeeCommunity Gothic from Frere-Jones TypeNew York City foundries you should know more about:Frere-Jones TypeTipofiliCommercial TypeBSPKGeneral Type StudioXYZ TypeClick here to get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Click here to subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Rate, review, subscribe to, and share the Interrogang liberally, and don't be strangers if you want to chat with us: hello@proofco.xyz.
Who gave Times New Roman all this power‽ Joshua "The Scorpion" Dick and Kyle "Victory Hands" Read review the contentious switch from Times New Roman to Calibri made by the US State Department this year and worry about how little control we actually have about which fonts become all-powerful. Times New Roman may be on its way out, but there are some TNR diehards out there still praying to Our Lady of Serifs. The guys also talk well-designed emojis and come across some heretofore buried phobias that also serve as great wrestler names...Font releases highlighted in this episode:Editorial Old from Pangram Pangram Melindrosa from Flavia ZimbardiSalad Days from Meg Lewis Gloridot and Ringold from the brand spankin' new Bijou Type Click here to get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Click here to subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Rate, review, subscribe to, and share the Interrogang liberally, and don't be strangers if you want to chat with us: hello@proofco.xyz.
Where does inspiration come from when designing a font‽ There were plenty of answers to that question from this past week, from Beast of England's Acorn reminiscing about Acorn Computers to Clothilde Bouan's Niki, which delightfully reflects artist Niki de Saint-Phalle's extensive repertoire, to DS Type's Prelo Pro taking a cue from...its own Prelo family DNA. We also find that it is a Bold Decision to name your font True Serif and that Lexia from Dalton Maag could have added a few more genres to describe it and we still would have loved its panache. Now, let's talk tittles... Click here to get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Click here to subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Rate, review, subscribe to, and share the Interrogang liberally, and don't be strangers if you want to chat with us: hello@proofco.xyz.
Is who you know more important than what you know‽ Josh and Kyle cut through the social foofah to put the phrase "It's not what you know, it's who you know" in its place, all while trying to convince you they aren't lonely hermits. There are also two months of type releases to review, and we realize how Ohno Type Co.'s name may hint at our impending doom. It's a lot to handle, but we've got big, jazzy, three-dimensional dreams for 2023...What's next?Font releases highlighted in this episode:Items from Schick ToikkaLipo from Suitcase Type Casserole from Ohno Type Co. Baste from Lift TypeFamily from Klim Type Foundry Click here to get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022!Click here to subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter for all the independent type news that's fit to email!Rate, review, subscribe to, and share the Interrogang liberally, and don't be strangers if you want to chat with us: hello@proofco.xyz.
Are emojis typography‽ The debate rages on (or rather, rages from a year and a half ago) in this Rewind episode.Click here to get your 2022 Annual Report and Almanac, our data-driven look at the world of independent typography in 2022! Click here to subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter to get all the latest type news and notes from your friends at Proof&Co!Please take a moment to rate and review us on your podcasting site of choice and if you like what you hear, tell your friends and family they should listen too!