This newsletter has perhaps found its way into your inbox a bit too far into January to wish you “happy new year”, but hey, I’m going to go for it anyway. Happy new year to you, and thanks so much for returning! Personally, I could’ve done with a longer rest in many ways, but there’s so much new stuff on the horizon, I’ve been eager to jump back into things this year. Specifically, there’s so much typography stuff I’m excited to announce, I’m calling 2023 “the year of typography”. Well, for me, anyway. You’re welcome to join in, though. Let’s see if it sticks.

Typographic & Sporadic

The first item of business today — and I must apologise in advance because this issue is a bit of a self-indulgent one — is to say that this newsletter finally has a brand. To avoid any potential confusion, I’ve not renamed everything yet, but starting from the next issue, watch out for Typographic & Sporadic rather than (the very accurate but not particularly inspiring) Elliot Jay Stocks’ newsletter. Huge thanks if you took part in my very lo-fi user research for the naming. Now, who can name the three typefaces used in the logo?

Hello from shivery Somerset. It is cold here right now. Oh boy. But at least things look and feel a bit like our “traditional” idea of the festive season for once. And the other wonderful thing about being perpetually cold during the end-of-year wind-down is that it’s 100% socially acceptable to sit in front of the fire with a glass of port every night. Well, that’s what I’ve decided, anyway. And this edition of the newsletter is a particularly long one — I don’t want to say “Christmas special”, but it’s kind of heading that way — so I can thoroughly recommend you digest this at night, maybe in front of a fire, perhaps with a little tipple, but most definitely with a jumper or two on. Or at least metaphorically, if you’re in warmer climes.

Oh, and before we get going with the links, I wanted to let you know that I think I might finally have a name for this thing: Typographic & Sporadic. What do you think? Does what it says on the tin, right? For what it’s worth, I actually prefer The Sporadic Typographic, but I don’t want to tread on Micah and Olivia’s toes. Anyway, let me know if you love it or hate it in the replies. User testing, people!

My first link’s pretty timely. UX designer Mattias Ott is currently running an Independent Type Foundry Advent Calendar; that is, he’s posting about a different foundry every day in December right up until Christmas. And what a wonderful way to discover some new type-makers! Today’s is Interval Type, who are new to me. (If you like this, you might also enjoy Mark Johnson and Thomas Drach’s Type Foundry Index.)

How’s everyone doing? I’m gutted, because I’ve just realised that I’m going to miss next week’s Letter Luvvers, as my wife and I are going to see Widowspeak that night (which will also be loads of fun). However, I’ve got some exciting type-related news for you.

I designed some festive cards

Please forgive the shameless plug right upfront, but I finally realised a career-long dream and actually designed myself some cards for the festive season. I know, I should probably get out more. But hey, they’re here, they’re printed on GF Smith card that’s made from recycled coffee cups, and you can also buy a pack of 4 to send out to your friends and family. If you’re interested in knowing more, I’ve just — just! — published a blog post with all of the details. You (probably) heard it here first, folks.

Happy Thursday, folks. Hope you’re all having a good week, despite all… er… [points to a montage of news headlines]. Let’s distract ourselves with some typographic goodies!

Book: A Guide to Lettering by Hand

My new friend Emma Luczyn, who I met after her talk at the first Letter Luvvers, has just reprinted her little workbook, ‘A Guide to Lettering by Hand’. I can’t wait to get my copy, which I bought as soon as I saw the reprint announcement. Get yours before it’s out of print again!

Greetings from rural Somerset, UK, where the leaves are starting to turn, the kids are back at school (both of mine now), and everyone’s starting to think about about change; and not just because of the country’s two new leaders — neither of whom were in charge when I sent my last newsletter. One change I really need to get to is: coming up with a proper name for this newsletter. Any ideas? Please feel free to suggest one in reply!

Typeface: GT Pressura

I’ve always been a real sucker for microsites, especially when it comes to fonts, and this one, for the refreshed GT Pressura, made me sit up and take notice. The original version went under my radar when it was released 10 years ago, but I’m really into this revision. I guess I’m starting to enjoy these ever-so-slightly soft typefaces in my old age.

I’ve just got back from a much-needed and all-too-short holiday in Corfu. My family and I (there’s a Gerald Durrell joke in there somewhere) managed to find a little corner of paradise in a part of the island unspoiled by sunburned Brits, with the sea quite literally at the end of our Airbnb’s garden. Bliss!

But you’re not here for the postcard from my holiday, are you? On with the typography!

A Guide to Sinistral Hand

Luvvers & castles — July 22, 2022

Happy Friday, folks. I didn’t expect to be sending out another newsletter so soon (when I said this’d be “sporadic”, I was trying to make life easier for myself), but hey, some interesting type stuff came up, and who am I to ignore it? Oh, and hello, all you new subscribers! Lovely to have you all here.

Letter Luvvers

Welcome to the inaugural issue of my newsletter. Another newsletter? Really?!? Its existence is absolutely not necessary, but I hope you’ll enjoy it nonetheless. The plan is to collate a load of links every now and then, and those links will probably be about type and typography. The occasional link may not be. This edition’s links are. Lucky you!

Something that doesn’t work — and why

In this week’s Font Friday, Oliver Schöndorfer picks a font that’s well designed, but let down by its spacing. However, rather than dismiss it entirely, he uses it as an example of how to get the most out of type that may lack polish: “I’d rather educate you on it than keep you from it.”