Google has launched a new web fonts directory, with a way better font browser and (finally) search functionality. Though they still need a wider selection, I’m a big fan of Google Web Fonts because they’re free, easy to embed on a page, and offer downloadable versions of each font (to design with).
How to Create a Ligature: String (by David Schwen)
Typographic oasis: The Neon Boneyard
The boneyard lies just outside of America’s buffet and yard-long margarita capital: Yes, it’s Las Vegas.
So much beautiful typography and texture. Might have to consider finding this next weekend when I’m in sin city.
The Lost Type Co-op is a collaboration between Tyler Galpin and Riley Cran. It was founded with the intention of providing unique and quality fonts based on a pay-what-you-want model. All designers get 100% of the donations their font receives.
Cool idea with some quality entries already. Very curious to see where this goes.
Users can now embed only the letters they need from a typeface, which will greatly improve load time. While I prefer TypeKit on most web design projects, Google definitely knocks it out of the park with simplicity (if you can put up with the limited selection).
Just posted a new footer design to the Sencha website with more navigation, some social links, and Google Translate widget. Shown above is our site in Arabic, which, thanks to Typekit, looks pretty fantastic. We even have some rough RTL support!
Pierre Marly from Teehan+Lax discusses how the team has expedited their design process by using a baseline grid:
By adding a vertical grid — or baseline grid — to their horizontal grid, print designers found the way to create complex layouts where chance was eliminated (when followed obsessive-compulsively). Suddenly typography and iconography could sit on a systematic series of horizontal lines called “baseline grid”.
They also provide the primary grid they discuss (960px with a 6px baseline) for download at the bottom of the article.
MaisonBisson posts a nice little roundup of tricks and tips for using Helvetica Neue on the web.
50 and 50 is a collective, curated project where fifty designers are invited to represent their state by illustrating its motto. a new piece will be posted every week day.
Though they’re created by different designers, the illustrations all use a consistent color scheme and style, and are an absolute pleasure to browse.
