www.pbs.org Type is everywhere. Every print publication, website, movie, advertisement and public message involves the creation or selection of a fitting typeface. Online, a rich and artistic typographical culture exists, where typefaces are created and graphic design seeps in to every image. In episode 2 of Off Book, typeface designers Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones outline the importance of selecting the right font to convey a particular feeling. Graphic designer Paula Scher talks about building identity in messaging, while Eddie Opara uses texture to create reaction. Infographic designers Julia Vakser and Deroy Peraza map complicated data sets into digestible imagery, mixing color, graphics and type. www.pbs.org Artists: Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones, Typeface Designers Paula Scher, Designer Eddie Opara, Designer Deroy Peraza and Julia Vakser, Designers Music by: VLOOPER: vlooper.bandcamp.com Anitek: www.myspace.com Reno Project: soundcloud.com Stidiek: www.myspace.com Hinariku216: soundcloud.com Follow Off Book: Twitter: @pbsoffbook Tumblr: pbsarts.tumblr.com Produced by Kornhaber Brown: www.kornhaberbrown.com
Saturday, December 17th, 2011, 10:40 am | 
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December 17, 2011 at 10:53 am
COMIC SANS
(Just Kidding)
ROFLXD
December 17, 2011 at 11:28 am
COMIC SANS FTW!
December 17, 2011 at 11:58 am
Really nice clip. I’ve followed the underlying function of type from the early days of print to digital breakout artists like Neville Brody. We have these two sensibilities, one originating out of readability, and the other out of emotional expression or branding.
Apple got this very early on, by making their font friendly for a technology product. The margins for great type work are always in tight spaces, not on the outer edges.
Very tight tolerances, as it should be.
December 17, 2011 at 12:40 pm
@PBS The new Helvetica…
December 17, 2011 at 12:42 pm
is that j dilla at :27??
December 17, 2011 at 12:53 pm
HAHAHAH THE NUMBER 6 JUST KILLED ME
Best typeface in tha world !
December 17, 2011 at 1:11 pm
THREE WORDS: FAB–UL–OUS!!!
December 17, 2011 at 1:22 pm
We were asked what typeface was used in the titles — it’s “Gotham.”
December 17, 2011 at 2:22 pm
I want moooore of this!
December 17, 2011 at 2:22 pm
This is why I love PBS!
December 17, 2011 at 2:54 pm
@theimpost T y p s n i t t
December 17, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Brilliant!!! I’m showing this to my students.
December 17, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Thank you.
December 17, 2011 at 3:39 pm
@THEinterrobang Language changes, and the old letterpress definition of “font” is no longer in popular use. In fact, most muggles now use “font” and “style” to refer to what I would call typefaces and fonts.
December 17, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@THEinterrobang is absolutely correct.
Also, to say serifs are “decorative” is a bit off. They can be, but typically they function to make lots of body text more readable, at least in print.
Also, Opara’s work is AMAZING! But “texture” in reference to typography typically refers to the texture created by a block of text, which depends on the typeface and the way it’s set. His work isn’t representative of this idea, so using it as such does little to educate a broad audience about type.
December 17, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Comics…lol…
nice!
December 17, 2011 at 4:43 pm
really awesome video
December 17, 2011 at 5:43 pm
@THEinterrobang Actually, “font” as it’s commonly used means a specific member of a typeface family, as it’s defined in the video. I suspect you are sticking with an archaic definition that matters only to nitpickers and those specialists who still use movable type printing presses.
December 17, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Calexico!!
December 17, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Nice work PBS! Keep it up!
December 17, 2011 at 7:10 pm
@saarela93 all the music is listed in the description for the video.
December 17, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Brilliant!
December 17, 2011 at 7:54 pm
@THEinterrobang
People in the (digital) type industry call “fonts” the computer files for the typefaces.
December 17, 2011 at 8:18 pm
Helvetica for web? Wait, what?
At larger sizes, I’m inclined to agree, but pretty much any font does that job.
December 17, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Idk, I just love Segoe WP N and Myriad Pro.