It's very nearly almost February. I know what you're thinking: it will soon be time to rejoice in the intimate connection between two human beings in love. And of course, that leads to the inevitable question, how can I celebrate it and further the cause of capitalism at the same time? Yes, it is time for special font packs!
You thought the Xerox logo was bad? It's positively smashing compared to what is going on over at CapitalOne. Here's how the conversation went:
Director of Communications: Hmmm, we need to refresh our brand. There are too many negative associations with banking institutions following the credit crunch. We need to re-engage with our stakeholders, reassure them, while at the same time reaching out to new customer relationship opportunities.
Design Agency Wanker: Hmmm, have you thought about shoving a stupid hackneyed swoosh over it? Nike has a swoosh and people quite like them.
Director of Communications: That's a brand synergy I like! People love sports, they're dynamic, they're about success. Swooshes... yeah!
Design Agency Wanker: That'll be $750,000 please.
Director of Communications: Yay! Another line of coke?
Director of Communications: Hmmm, we need to refresh our brand. There are too many negative associations with banking institutions following the credit crunch. We need to re-engage with our stakeholders, reassure them, while at the same time reaching out to new customer relationship opportunities.
Design Agency Wanker: Hmmm, have you thought about shoving a stupid hackneyed swoosh over it? Nike has a swoosh and people quite like them.
Director of Communications: That's a brand synergy I like! People love sports, they're dynamic, they're about success. Swooshes... yeah!
Design Agency Wanker: That'll be $750,000 please.
Director of Communications: Yay! Another line of coke?
Quick! Want something to do in London town tonight? At 7pm tonight at St Bride there's an illustrated talk on Valentines and other assorted love-related ephemera. £5 entry (£3 for concessions) with a glass of free wine. Wow, how did they know that's my favourite kind?
Slab serif your thing? Bored of Lubalin? Need a bit of mid-century marvel? Say no more, and with ball terminals like these, you just want to lick the screen. Hmmm, that sounded ruder than intended. There was some controversy on Typophile, but that seems to have mysteriously disappeared. Hmmm. Hmmmmmm.
Sorry about that headline. MyFonts' January edition of Creative Characters features the guys from The Hague, Underware. Corking interview, great start to the week.
For you millions of iPhone and iPod Touch users, Typographer.org now has a touch icon for adding to your home screen, courtesy of the ever-lovely Aegir. Coming in a week or two: custom content for reading the news on your mobile device, whether it be iPhone, iPod touch, S60 smartphone, or other marvel of modern technology. And after that, a news update schedule that is measured in hour and days, not weeks and months.
Extensis has announced at Macworld Expo the rather grandly named Universal Type Server. The new server software will replace Suitcase Server and FontReserve Server products, and will include new technologies such as intergalactic font activation.
I giggled. And I haven't even seen the videos yet.
A new year, a new opportunity for rebranding! Let's hope its not all this bad, though, huh? Poor Xerox, nice type and all, but does the world need another dreadful little globe? I love the press releases. The red is vibrant or vivid. Funny how its never described as violent, bloody or aggressive. Ahhh the joy of language, as we move towards the point where it has no bloody meaning anymore. Newspeak anyone?
