Typography Maps by Dirk Schächter

(Below: Actual Map, For Comparison)

    These typography maps were designed by German designer, Dirk Schächter, and are available for sale on typomaps.net .
    They are very visually appealing and interesting. I like the different use of colors and appreciate the amount of time it must have taken to hand set the type. That's right - he set all this type by hand not on a computer. He's also done a fairly good job of representing the countries realistically, although he left some out to make it happen. How very German of him to decide which countries deserve to exist on the map and which ones don't... that was a low blow! Just a little dark WW2 humor. 
    What really disappoints me is that for such a cool and different idea, he chose to use Helvetica Neue Black Condensed? SERIOUSLY? It's just such an obvious font choice and is so ordinary and boring for such an inventive and cool piece of art and cartography. 
    It would have been fun to see a range of fonts used that reflected the cultures of the countries or regions. The map shows new ways to use typography and showing that different fonts could reflect the variations of cultures would add another layer of discovery. And even if Shachter wanted to keep with one font for the whole map, I would have liked to see a more unique choice. It would have put this work over the top and made it something really special. 
    As it is, set in Helvetica Neue font, I'm not planning to spend 49 euros aka $66.50 on it. But if you're a fan of Helvetica, then you probably think this is pretty dern nifty. Again the link is:
typomaps.net .

Where Are the Serifs?

Serifs are really simple but the choice to use them or not use them makes a big difference. I think serifs have fallen out of fashion because people think that the message is clearer and stronger when set in sans serif type. I just think that the message looks cheaper. Everything is set in sans serif these days so the message just blends in with everything else instead of being louder and more clear. I'm so sick of sans serif! Why is everything so dressed down these days? Can we get some class back in this world? In general, society needs to put more effort into presentation and thoughtfulness and unless there's a real reason to use sans serif, ads and logos need to dress up their message and get some serifs back!

(Collage from: blog.thomasjquinn.com )


Serifs look more formal, more established and more credible. I feel like the ubiquity of sans serif type is simple laziness. Don't just choose sans serif. If sans serif is right for the message then fine but THINK FIRST! I'm so tired of the jeans and sneakers helvetica type. Please BRING BACK THE SERIFS!

See? Doesn't that just feel better?