The Ohno Book: A Serious Guide to Irreverent Type Design

Edmondson, founder of type studio and foundry Oh No Type Co, debuts with a practical and plucky primer on the nitty-gritty of type design. Having experienced type design as “a hobby, then a job, and more recently, a sort of spiritual practice,” the author shares tips and tricks he’s learned. These include the difference between a broad nib and pointed pen, the necessity of freehand sketching (“to expose all the flaws in your system”), what makes for a useful sketch (“less like a beautiful drawing and more like a jacked-up ransom note”), the joy of trying out new designs on nonsense words, and the utmost importance of spacing (which accounts for “why certain word shapes made my heart sing, while others commanded nothing more than a passing glance”). Also included are loving presentations of Oh No’s type designs, which lay out the unique and often eccentric processes of their creation—such as Vulf Mono, a typeface commissioned by funk band Vulfpek and inspired by the type produced by IBM Selectric typewriters—as well as deep dives into the quirks of each letter of the alphabet (from E’s “wild optical adjustments” to K’s required “careful consideration of the three pockets of negative space”). With its copious zany illustrations and conversational tone, this makes for an entertaining guide to the world of type. (Oct.)