Contextual Research – Fonts
30/04/2021
Research on two designers who are working with experimental type.
Milos Zlatanovic
Milos Zlatanovic is the creator of the font ‘Kanibal’ which upon first glance almost looks like a group of random letters from a lot of different font styles. However, upon closer inspection, it’s actually in some ways, an organised mess. Each letter relates to at least one or a few others, making the alphabet harmonious and almost matching in the way that it is made. Despite the fact that they are mostly different in both style and width. The alphabet is also presented in black and white and each letter is the same height, obviously making it much easier to see it as one whole alphabet rather than a random selection of letters.
Milos Zlatanovic said in his designer profile for the award of ‘2016, Best In Class, Print Magazine, Cincinnati, United States of America’ that “Graphic Design is the way for me to express how I feel about society.” Which allows us to see that the font ‘Kanibal’ is more than just a jumble of designs, but actually an expression of the designers thoughts and feelings both towards and about society. And the font has been used by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and big brands names, such as ‘Nike’.
Jérémy Schneider
Jérémy Schneider is the French creator of a lot of beautiful and intricate fonts. And he has even worked with other designers like himself to create other fonts. But the font I am focusing on, is called ‘Jager’ which was created last year, in 2020. The font itself is a tribute to ‘fine craftsmanship’ and was inspired by works created by craftsmen and the techniques that they use. There are angles present on each of the letters, that give the viewer the impression of working with wood. Chiselling, filing and engraving away at the wood to create intricate designs in it. And like with wood, there are only round edges, nothing is sharp on these letters.
The font comes in two versions. One is the ‘Master’ version, the ‘most advanced and daring’ design. This version comes with no changes and is said to be used most for headlines or short and medium length pieces of writing. And the second version is the classic. this version claims to be more versatile and has filled in some of the dips in the letters to make it so.