Typographica
@typographica.org
A review of #lettering and #typography. Since 2002. Posts by editor @stewf.com.
Primarily on Mastodon with many from the type community: https://typo.social/@typographica
Primarily on Mastodon with many from the type community: https://typo.social/@typographica
Pinned
Typographica
@typographica.org
· Jul 11
typo.social
Welcome to Typo.social! This is a Mastodon instance open to any typo and type enthusiastic. We are offering this service out of sheer courtesy without being held responsible for any disadvantages.
typo.social
Bluesky is a good alternative to X for the general public and some specific topics, especially politics. But for many communities and fields, a critical mass remains exclusively on Mastodon. Type designers and fans, for instance, have their own server with 679 active users: typo.social/directory.
I’m co-leading tours with @sfneon.bsky.social tomorrow and March 4. We visit sites around Union Square and connect their signs and matchbooks to #SanFrancisco nightlife history.
Feb 12: www.eventbrite.com/e/matchbook-...
Mar 4: www.eventbrite.com/e/matchbook-...
#Signs #Neon #Typography
Feb 12: www.eventbrite.com/e/matchbook-...
Mar 4: www.eventbrite.com/e/matchbook-...
#Signs #Neon #Typography
Matchbook-Neon Typography Tour 2/12
From vintage type to old glowing signs, follow the historic corridors of mid-century nightlife in San Francisco via neon and matchbooks.
www.eventbrite.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:57 PM
I’m co-leading tours with @sfneon.bsky.social tomorrow and March 4. We visit sites around Union Square and connect their signs and matchbooks to #SanFrancisco nightlife history.
Feb 12: www.eventbrite.com/e/matchbook-...
Mar 4: www.eventbrite.com/e/matchbook-...
#Signs #Neon #Typography
Feb 12: www.eventbrite.com/e/matchbook-...
Mar 4: www.eventbrite.com/e/matchbook-...
#Signs #Neon #Typography
Among my least favorite job duties: writing contracts and invoices.
Among my favorite job duties: typesetting contracts and invoices.
Among my favorite job duties: typesetting contracts and invoices.
February 10, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Among my least favorite job duties: writing contracts and invoices.
Among my favorite job duties: typesetting contracts and invoices.
Among my favorite job duties: typesetting contracts and invoices.
Following a clear lineage from her Lo-Res to Modula to Program, Zuzana Licko’s newest design is the perfect marriage of her past experiments with variable technology: www.emigre.com/Fonts/Modula... #ZuzanaLicko #EmigreFonts #Fonts #TypeDesign
Emigre: Modulator Font Family
Designed by Zuzana Licko in 2026. Modulator is a spin-off inspired by two different designs born in different eras: Modula Round Black, designed in 1995, and...
www.emigre.com
February 4, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Following a clear lineage from her Lo-Res to Modula to Program, Zuzana Licko’s newest design is the perfect marriage of her past experiments with variable technology: www.emigre.com/Fonts/Modula... #ZuzanaLicko #EmigreFonts #Fonts #TypeDesign
Bram Stein and @josesole.bsky.social’s extremely thorough Fonts chapter of the Web Almanac is out: almanac.httparchive.org/en/2025/fonts
#Fonts #WebDesign #Webfonts
#Fonts #WebDesign #Webfonts
Fonts | 2025 | The Web Almanac by HTTP Archive
Fonts chapter of the 2025 Web Almanac covering performance, design, and development trends for typography across the web.
almanac.httparchive.org
January 31, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Bram Stein and @josesole.bsky.social’s extremely thorough Fonts chapter of the Web Almanac is out: almanac.httparchive.org/en/2025/fonts
#Fonts #WebDesign #Webfonts
#Fonts #WebDesign #Webfonts
Reposted by Typographica
100 followers isn't much, but in reality it's a crowd! So I think it's a good excuse to introduce myself 😀
Hi! I'm Vera — a type designer, especially passionate in deep-rooted, research-based type design projects.
I'm also a calligrapher, believing that calligraphy is a performance in its own right
Hi! I'm Vera — a type designer, especially passionate in deep-rooted, research-based type design projects.
I'm also a calligrapher, believing that calligraphy is a performance in its own right
January 30, 2026 at 9:38 AM
100 followers isn't much, but in reality it's a crowd! So I think it's a good excuse to introduce myself 😀
Hi! I'm Vera — a type designer, especially passionate in deep-rooted, research-based type design projects.
I'm also a calligrapher, believing that calligraphy is a performance in its own right
Hi! I'm Vera — a type designer, especially passionate in deep-rooted, research-based type design projects.
I'm also a calligrapher, believing that calligraphy is a performance in its own right
Reposted by Typographica
#CalligraphyMarathon ✍️
How it works?
You simply DM me the name you’d like written and choose the paper colour and format option (original or scan). I’ll write the piece and send you a preview first
Once you’re happy with it, I’ll ask for payment — and then send the scan or post the original to you 📮
How it works?
You simply DM me the name you’d like written and choose the paper colour and format option (original or scan). I’ll write the piece and send you a preview first
Once you’re happy with it, I’ll ask for payment — and then send the scan or post the original to you 📮
January 30, 2026 at 10:27 AM
#CalligraphyMarathon ✍️
How it works?
You simply DM me the name you’d like written and choose the paper colour and format option (original or scan). I’ll write the piece and send you a preview first
Once you’re happy with it, I’ll ask for payment — and then send the scan or post the original to you 📮
How it works?
You simply DM me the name you’d like written and choose the paper colour and format option (original or scan). I’ll write the piece and send you a preview first
Once you’re happy with it, I’ll ask for payment — and then send the scan or post the original to you 📮
Reposted by Typographica
Also! The Bay had me on to talk about CCA's closure. This team does such audio magic: we hear from a current BFA student just starting his second semester, I talk about the ripple effects on the art community, and we give the school the respect our mayor did not.
www.kqed.org/news/1207045...
www.kqed.org/news/1207045...
‘Nowhere Left to Go’: As California College of the Arts Closes, So Does a Pathway for Bay Area Artists | KQED
The school's closure stands to have a devastating impact on the Bay Area’s arts ecosystem
www.kqed.org
January 21, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Also! The Bay had me on to talk about CCA's closure. This team does such audio magic: we hear from a current BFA student just starting his second semester, I talk about the ripple effects on the art community, and we give the school the respect our mayor did not.
www.kqed.org/news/1207045...
www.kqed.org/news/1207045...
Look at the consistency between these two signs that hang on either side of the room at Don’s Donuts in Arcata, CA. That’s just solid brush work.
#SignPainting #Signs #Lettering #ArcataCA
#SignPainting #Signs #Lettering #ArcataCA
January 20, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Look at the consistency between these two signs that hang on either side of the room at Don’s Donuts in Arcata, CA. That’s just solid brush work.
#SignPainting #Signs #Lettering #ArcataCA
#SignPainting #Signs #Lettering #ArcataCA
Reposted by Typographica
Check out original scholarship from Tânia Raposo (@ainat_) on French publication designer Jeanine Fricker on our blog! Pictured works are from 1950s and 60s.
#PeoplesGDArchive
#GDHistory
#PeoplesGDArchive
#GDHistory
January 16, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Check out original scholarship from Tânia Raposo (@ainat_) on French publication designer Jeanine Fricker on our blog! Pictured works are from 1950s and 60s.
#PeoplesGDArchive
#GDHistory
#PeoplesGDArchive
#GDHistory
Reposted by Typographica
The first early announcement!
I’m going to run a Calligraphy Marathon ahead of St Valentine’s Day.
14 days. Writing a #name on request!
🎥 Video of every calligraphy work included ✍️
Options:
1. an original sent by mail — £10 + postage
2. a scan of the calligraphy piece — £8
#CalligraphyMarathon
I’m going to run a Calligraphy Marathon ahead of St Valentine’s Day.
14 days. Writing a #name on request!
🎥 Video of every calligraphy work included ✍️
Options:
1. an original sent by mail — £10 + postage
2. a scan of the calligraphy piece — £8
#CalligraphyMarathon
January 16, 2026 at 4:49 PM
The first early announcement!
I’m going to run a Calligraphy Marathon ahead of St Valentine’s Day.
14 days. Writing a #name on request!
🎥 Video of every calligraphy work included ✍️
Options:
1. an original sent by mail — £10 + postage
2. a scan of the calligraphy piece — £8
#CalligraphyMarathon
I’m going to run a Calligraphy Marathon ahead of St Valentine’s Day.
14 days. Writing a #name on request!
🎥 Video of every calligraphy work included ✍️
Options:
1. an original sent by mail — £10 + postage
2. a scan of the calligraphy piece — £8
#CalligraphyMarathon
CCA sells to Vanderbilt. The century-old school will close after the 2026–27 academic year.
Vanderbilt announcement: news.vanderbilt.edu/2026/01/13/v...
CCA president’s message: cca.edu/about/vander...
FAQ: portal.cca.edu/transition/c...
Vanderbilt announcement: news.vanderbilt.edu/2026/01/13/v...
CCA president’s message: cca.edu/about/vander...
FAQ: portal.cca.edu/transition/c...
Vanderbilt University to establish full-time academic campus in San Francisco
Vanderbilt University today announced plans to establish an academic campus in San Francisco beginning in 2027, subject to necessary regulatory approvals. This is a significant expansion of the univer...
news.vanderbilt.edu
January 13, 2026 at 7:31 PM
CCA sells to Vanderbilt. The century-old school will close after the 2026–27 academic year.
Vanderbilt announcement: news.vanderbilt.edu/2026/01/13/v...
CCA president’s message: cca.edu/about/vander...
FAQ: portal.cca.edu/transition/c...
Vanderbilt announcement: news.vanderbilt.edu/2026/01/13/v...
CCA president’s message: cca.edu/about/vander...
FAQ: portal.cca.edu/transition/c...
Reposted by Typographica
My very insightful friend Doug Wilson has started a new business that might help you out. It’s a rare thing to have an independent resource with such deep knowledge of typography and the type industry available to help you make sense of things. typeadvisor.com
Type Advisor: Your Font Consultant
Helping designers and users of fonts make the best decisions about type
typeadvisor.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:14 PM
My very insightful friend Doug Wilson has started a new business that might help you out. It’s a rare thing to have an independent resource with such deep knowledge of typography and the type industry available to help you make sense of things. typeadvisor.com
Reposted by Typographica
Remembering James Mosley
hyphenpress.co.uk/2026/01/07/r...
hyphenpress.co.uk/2026/01/07/r...
January 7, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Remembering James Mosley
hyphenpress.co.uk/2026/01/07/r...
hyphenpress.co.uk/2026/01/07/r...
A reminder that Apple’s (not Hoefler’s) Hoefler Text: is buggy. Hyphens and dashes are in the cap position (too high). It’s been reported many times on Apple’s feedback site and mentioned to various employees. Perhaps Apple has simply decided that this is not a bug.
#HoeflerText #Apple #Fonts
#HoeflerText #Apple #Fonts
January 9, 2026 at 6:26 AM
A reminder that Apple’s (not Hoefler’s) Hoefler Text: is buggy. Hyphens and dashes are in the cap position (too high). It’s been reported many times on Apple’s feedback site and mentioned to various employees. Perhaps Apple has simply decided that this is not a bug.
#HoeflerText #Apple #Fonts
#HoeflerText #Apple #Fonts
Reposted by Typographica
As requested, the tumbling alphabet needed to be hung in any orientation, so here we are:
January 7, 2026 at 2:30 PM
As requested, the tumbling alphabet needed to be hung in any orientation, so here we are:
Reposted by Typographica
This Just In: Chinese Lettering Manuals, 1930–1971
In our ongoing effort to expand the story of graphic design beyond the Western canon, we’re consulting experts and collecting objects in other scripts. Read Synoptic Office’s article on the latest collection: letterformarchive.org/news/this-ju...
In our ongoing effort to expand the story of graphic design beyond the Western canon, we’re consulting experts and collecting objects in other scripts. Read Synoptic Office’s article on the latest collection: letterformarchive.org/news/this-ju...
This Just In: Chinese Lettering Manuals, 1930–1971
Our new meishuzi collection reflects a period of significant cultural change in China, and provides an uncommon source of inspiration for contemporary lettering artists and type designers.
letterformarchive.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:26 AM
This Just In: Chinese Lettering Manuals, 1930–1971
In our ongoing effort to expand the story of graphic design beyond the Western canon, we’re consulting experts and collecting objects in other scripts. Read Synoptic Office’s article on the latest collection: letterformarchive.org/news/this-ju...
In our ongoing effort to expand the story of graphic design beyond the Western canon, we’re consulting experts and collecting objects in other scripts. Read Synoptic Office’s article on the latest collection: letterformarchive.org/news/this-ju...
The Flickr album of my favorite signs just passed 100: www.flickr.com/photos/stewf...
Here’s the map view: www.flickr.com/photos/stewf...
As always, Flickr remains the best place to store, organize, and share photos.
#Signs #Lettering #Photography #Flickr
Here’s the map view: www.flickr.com/photos/stewf...
As always, Flickr remains the best place to store, organize, and share photos.
#Signs #Lettering #Photography #Flickr
Best of Signs
Explore this photo album by Stephen Coles on Flickr!
www.flickr.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:44 PM
The Flickr album of my favorite signs just passed 100: www.flickr.com/photos/stewf...
Here’s the map view: www.flickr.com/photos/stewf...
As always, Flickr remains the best place to store, organize, and share photos.
#Signs #Lettering #Photography #Flickr
Here’s the map view: www.flickr.com/photos/stewf...
As always, Flickr remains the best place to store, organize, and share photos.
#Signs #Lettering #Photography #Flickr
Highly professional adaptive reuse.
Pee Wee’s Pizza, San Leandro, CA.
2009 www.flickr.com/photos/tspau...
2025 maps.app.goo.gl/8sXiQKst6bVL...
#Signs #Neon #NeonSigns #Oakland #SanLeandro
Pee Wee’s Pizza, San Leandro, CA.
2009 www.flickr.com/photos/tspau...
2025 maps.app.goo.gl/8sXiQKst6bVL...
#Signs #Neon #NeonSigns #Oakland #SanLeandro
December 22, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Highly professional adaptive reuse.
Pee Wee’s Pizza, San Leandro, CA.
2009 www.flickr.com/photos/tspau...
2025 maps.app.goo.gl/8sXiQKst6bVL...
#Signs #Neon #NeonSigns #Oakland #SanLeandro
Pee Wee’s Pizza, San Leandro, CA.
2009 www.flickr.com/photos/tspau...
2025 maps.app.goo.gl/8sXiQKst6bVL...
#Signs #Neon #NeonSigns #Oakland #SanLeandro
Reposted by Typographica
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie. Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry. A new blog post by Tanya George. letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
#Lettering #BookCovers #Poetry #GraphicDesign #Illustration #CzechDesign
#Lettering #BookCovers #Poetry #GraphicDesign #Illustration #CzechDesign
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie
Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry.
letterformarchive.org
December 21, 2025 at 2:22 AM
From the Collection: Sylvie Vodáková’s Book Covers for Květy Poezie. Meet the Czech designer who shaped how generations of readers encountered poetry. A new blog post by Tanya George. letterformarchive.org/news/sylvie-...
#Lettering #BookCovers #Poetry #GraphicDesign #Illustration #CzechDesign
#Lettering #BookCovers #Poetry #GraphicDesign #Illustration #CzechDesign
Want to use the Adobe Fonts service but don’t want to pay $70/month for Creative Cloud? You can subscribe to InCopy for $5/month (which includes Adobe Fonts): www.adobe.com/plans/creati...
Just learned this from Tom Phinney: typedrawers.com/discussion/c...
Just learned this from Tom Phinney: typedrawers.com/discussion/c...
Adobe plans and pricing for creative professionals
www.adobe.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Want to use the Adobe Fonts service but don’t want to pay $70/month for Creative Cloud? You can subscribe to InCopy for $5/month (which includes Adobe Fonts): www.adobe.com/plans/creati...
Just learned this from Tom Phinney: typedrawers.com/discussion/c...
Just learned this from Tom Phinney: typedrawers.com/discussion/c...
“For a division that promised better services, the NDS’s first releases are remarkably devoid of services altogether. Of the four (soon to be five) public-facing projects associated with NDS, none meaningfully connect users to a government system where any real task can be completed.”
I wrote a piece for @archpaper.com about 18F, the National Design Studio, and the insidiousness of “rebranding” government services instead of improving them. Thanks to my editors for letting me use the phrase “tread on me daddy” in an architecture publication 🫡
www.archpaper.com/2025/12/nati...
www.archpaper.com/2025/12/nati...
www.archpaper.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:48 AM
“For a division that promised better services, the NDS’s first releases are remarkably devoid of services altogether. Of the four (soon to be five) public-facing projects associated with NDS, none meaningfully connect users to a government system where any real task can be completed.”
Reposted by Typographica
If the State Dept doesn’t want to use Calibri or Times New Roman, they could always opt for Satanick, an 1890s knockoff of William Morris’s Troy by ATF
December 12, 2025 at 12:32 AM
If the State Dept doesn’t want to use Calibri or Times New Roman, they could always opt for Satanick, an 1890s knockoff of William Morris’s Troy by ATF
Reposted by Typographica
Ditching Calibri as a “wasteful diversity” font is both hilarious and sad.
Here's a quick reminder of what Calibri actually is and why it matters. (1/2)
Here's a quick reminder of what Calibri actually is and why it matters. (1/2)
December 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Ditching Calibri as a “wasteful diversity” font is both hilarious and sad.
Here's a quick reminder of what Calibri actually is and why it matters. (1/2)
Here's a quick reminder of what Calibri actually is and why it matters. (1/2)
The State Dept. font story is pretty silly, but I like that it gives the public a chance to learn more about a craft they encounter every day. Here’s the designer of Calibri, Luc(as) de Groot, on CNN talking parameters and spindly serifs. video.snapstream.net/Play/2UPcOhf...
What We Know With Max Foster - Luc de Groot
Powered by SnapStream Cloud Sharing
video.snapstream.net
December 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The State Dept. font story is pretty silly, but I like that it gives the public a chance to learn more about a craft they encounter every day. Here’s the designer of Calibri, Luc(as) de Groot, on CNN talking parameters and spindly serifs. video.snapstream.net/Play/2UPcOhf...