Robert Bringhurst Essay

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Robert Bringhurst’s Elements of Typographic Style is considered to be one of the most reputable sources on typographic history, conventions and philosophy. While its typographic rules are written rather concretely, Bringhurst opens his book by stating “If you use this book as a guide, by all means leave the road when you wish. That is precisely the use of a road: to reach individually chosen points of departure. By all means break the rules, and break them beautifully, deliberately, and well. That is one of the ends for which they exist” (Bringhurst, 10).

Typographic standards have been established through centuries of the trade, from handwritten script to press-printed type, and even to digitally constructed type. Although typography continues to evolve, the typographic standards for clarity have rarely changed since the widespread development of printed books made with movable type during the Renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries. Subsequently, type has …show more content…

Bringhurst offers his philosophy as a collection of typographic principles in observance of these methods. First and foremost, typography should not get in the way of the content it is presenting. It exists as a medium to communicate thoughts from one person to another or many, and its ultimate goal should be to effectively communicate without calling too much attention to itself – unless it is the typographer’s goal to do so for a greater purpose. Good design is often transparent when it exists as an interface for use. Another goal of a typeface is to become timeless; it should be durable enough to last over a long period of time without becoming dated. To accomplish these goals, typographers must create typefaces that are in line with the established letterforms. Although restricting in many ways, typographers find enough freedom within these restrictions to create beautiful, dignified

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