We’ve always been told that you can find the beauty in and draw inspiration from anything. Well here’s one interesting place, Japanese Manhole Covers displays tons of simply beautiful manhole covers. Another resource to draw inspiration from is Speak Up’s Word It. According to them Word It is…

your opportunity to express in as many words, and as many other graphic elements as you need, what best describes each monthly topic. Each month we will choose a specific topic, idea or theme. For example: the first theme was “inspiration.” So you would go home, or do it at work, and find words, images, artwork, whatever that best describes what inspiration means to you. It could be anything: music, cats, chocolate, museum, love, laundry. Anything that reflects what inspiration is to you. You can do whatever you want to it: vectorize it, photoshop it, scan it or build it and then send it to us.

Big thanks to Spoono for pointing out TypeTester. It’s an online tool that allows you to preview all the web safe fonts in one browser screen. You can also browse through your own font list. Go check it out!

Here I am again, blabbering senselessly about typography. Sorry can’t help it, I spent my entire undergrad thesis on typrography and its effectiveness in the mass media. You must be thinking I’m obsessed by it, unfortunately I am. Last time I mentioned I would get into using typography with cutting edge photography. I will get right to it and keep it short. If you are walking down a busy street, driving on the highway, or riding public transportation, you must have come across numerous amount of ads using mainly photography and the right amount of content to send a message across. Let’s face it, all of us, or most of us have a short attention span, including myself. I can get sidetracked in exactly 16 seconds, yes, I timed myself. Advertisers are faced with the daunting task of publishing ads that will have an immediate effect. Therefore, they use cutting edge photography with carefully picked type sets for content. Pick up a magazine and check out ads for Absolut Vodka, Nike, Adidas, Got Milk, and many others. In the future, be aware of your surroundings and try to pick up what I just talked about. I’ll sign off for now, and return with a new topic regarding typography in the near future.

Typography has been an important factor in communication for centuries. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with replaceable wooden or metal letters in 1436. In my opinion, this is the single most important invention of mankind. Anyways, I won’t get into a history lesson and a general argument as to why the printing press has held such an important place in history. I am here to inform, educate and cherish your minds with effective typography techniques. Lets face it, any design with horrible typography automatically degrades the design itself. Many magazines are repulsive to look at because of their typography and layout styles. I’ll give you examples like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, New Yorker (great articles though), Men’s Health, many weekly and montly periodicals. Typography requires a special set of skills. It is not easy and not everyone can pull it off effectively. One needs to study it closely and determine how to make best use of it. I would suggest picking up a book on typography and studying it from A-Z. My persononal suggestion would be works of David Carson, the name of the book eludes me at the moment, but do your research, you’ll find many of his books on just typography. Make sure you study it till it satisfies your hunger for knowledge. After getting done with the book, get hold of a few magazines. Pick up publications like, Punk Planet, Wired, GQ, Wall Paper, WYWS, ID and anything that catches your eye as skillful typography. Get use to using one kind of font if you are designing a brochure, business card, any kind of stationery, magazine articles etc. And make friends with all classic typefaces since to this day, they are most effective. I think the info above is sufficient enough for you to get started. I personally have spent years studying typograhy on the web and print. I still have to grasp typography techniques on the web and CSS has yet to advance in that area. Pt-2 on typography is next. I will also introduce another topic regarding usage of typography with cutting edge photography. PS. Whenever you get a chance, pick up New City publication. It is available free in many convenience marts and street corners. Probably the best free publication put out in Chicago in recent years. Also check out UR Chicago.