Non-Designer’s Type Book, The, Second Edition

Chapter 32. Trends in Type, by John Tollett

Fifteen years ago, how many typesetters and typographic designers did you know on a first-name basis? And how many do you know today? I’m willing to bet my last, crumpled, 1980s vintage sheet of press type that most of the people you know have a better type selection at their fingertips than many professional typographers used to have in their shops. I’ll do better than that. I’ll bet my treasured, white-handled, tooth-marked x-acto knife that within the past hour or so, you’ve made a life-or-Helvetica decision.

Back when I was using that x-acto knife’s handle to burnish down that sheet of press type, if someone had asked me to bring them up to date on current type trends, I would have noted the revival ...