This is the best thing ever! Have you ever wished that history could come alive, or that you could control something or someone from the past? German typographer Harald Geisler hopes to connect you with one of the greatest minds known to man in the form of a font. Yes, Albert Einstein, the man who gave us the equation that many of us have seen but never really used or understood.
Fast Co Design explains Geisler’s process:
Like his Sigmund font, Geisler started his digitization efforts by combing through samples of Einstein’s handwriting, and identified four versions of each character, both uppercase and lowercase, which could be considered typical samples. Simultaneously, Geisler tried to get a sense for the rhythm of Einstein’s hand: how the discoverer of general relativity linked an ‘a’ to a ‘b’, or a ‘b’ to a ‘c’, making notes of the kinds of slopes and distances Einstein used. From there, Geisler meticulously copied every sample letter into a grid, and started tweaking it to make sure that it worked as a typeface.
Will wonders never cease?
In an email to Fast Co Design, Geisler states:
Albert Einstein’s handwriting was totally unique. His rhythm is continuous, while his letters are both very disciplined and extremely playful, especially with his initials, A and E. His line spacing is also extremely accurate, as if he used a ruled paper under his writing paper to keep it in order. He was a thinker outside of mainstream physics, and this was also reflected in his style of writing.
The possibilities of what you could do with this creation are endless.
Do you agree? Is this the best thing ever (or one of the best things ever)? Whose handwriting would you like to see converted into a font? Feel free to share in the comments.
tag: best thing ever
