January 27th, 2022

Elements of Typographic Style: Page 11

“Typographically, much has happened since the first edition of this book appeared, in 1992… In twenty-five years, I have put this book through about fifteen major and minor revisions.”

Robert Bringhurst

Typography is an interesting element of design. It is necessary to communicate, but also simultaneously acts as a design element that creates visual noise individually, or collectively with another element. It provides the audience with information, composition, and balance. But, it always changes.

This quote by author Robert Bringhurst was so astonishing for me. Not only did Bringhurst refer to the everchanging life of typography, but he treated the element as if it was a design element that is at the hands of culture, which is of course is. Similar to imagery, color, and composition, culture periodically changes what is popular. Typography is no exception to this.

The fact that our author has had to change this singular book about typography is a mere representation of how often and how drastically culture can change the way that we not only write our letters but see them.