Thinking with Type is a state-of-the-art pedagogical tool for anyone who wish to improve his design skills. The lessons of Thinking with Type are applicable to typographic design wherever it is practiced.
The book is organized into three main sections — Letter, Text and Grid —, each of which starts with a well-researched, thought-provoking essay. The article on Letter furnishes a brief overview of major trends in typeface design, from the fifteenth century to the present. The second essay articulates the evolution of text from linear page to non-linear screen. The third piece presents the different ways in which grids have been used to organize typographic matter.
Each essay is followed by an amply-illustrated how-to section and exercises. And like any good educator, Lupton doesn't just tell you typographic dos and don'ts, she shows you, with examples that are smart and humorous. The different typographic choices available to today's computer-enabled designer are displayed, along with reasons for picking one over the other.
Even those who already know something about typography will benefit from this title. It’s a great “propaganda” piece that you can loan to unbelieving friends and relatives, in an effort to convert them.
