Typographic + Printing Renegades — Nancy Bernardo
Channel: TypeCon
Date: 2022-06-27

Recorded during TypeCon2018: Xx in Portland, Oregon

Many of the graphic design movements that came after the Industrial Revolution criticized the way type was used in letterhead, business cards, posters, advertising etc. during the early part of the 20th century. The criticism stemmed from the fact that printers were not designers and didn’t know how to properly use type. Some type foundries were criticized for creating “monster fonts”; highly stylized typefaces that, for example, resembled architectural details of the time. To add to the “fussiness” of these designs were ornamental borders and motifs that were scoffed at for being over the top. These over the top designs were typically created by the printer and client, not a graphic designer.

This presentation will explore the role of the early 20th century printer as designer, punchcutters such as Herman Ihlenberg, and how these early renegades have influenced the type and design landscape of today.