Numerology Takes on Letterology

Chapter headings from the First Book in Arithmetic, 1888, Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square. Early infographics for the math-challenged.

:: From the Letterology Archives.

eBooks eVolve

The Future of the Book. from IDEO on Vimeo.

In the future, reading a book may not be such a linear experience and there is no doubt, there is an evolution going on. Or maybe it is a revolution as the debate between books and eBooks continues. The verb to read is taking on a new context as well. The dictionary now defines reading as comprehending the meaning of printed material and interpreting the characters and symbols of which it is composed. It is what you are doing now. Doh! However it can also be a conversation or debate–as IDEO explores their notions of books with us here–and it can be a series of hyperlinks that whisk us away on an entirely new adventure. It should be called readertainment as it makes reading fun, much like a video game or movie. And it certainly invites non-readers to the party too. But these frequent hyperlinks can also be really annoying and inhibit our imagination as it disrupts the reading process. As a reader, what are your thoughts? The last word has not been said on this topic, nor will it ever be. I personally believe there is room for both linear and non-linear reading–analog books and the digital–and the common goal is to make it a pleasant and rewarding experience. Just practice good typographic hygiene and mind your Ps & Qs.

You can also enter into the conversation over on IDEOs Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/ideobigconversations

Textbooks

Your first assignment is to order these two required textbooks: The first is Book Typography, A Designer's Manual by Mitchell & Wightman, Libanus Press, 2005. It can be ordered from Amazon or Oak Knoll Books for $69.95. This book is a practical guide to typography and explains the principles of good design, why they exist and when to put them into practice. It is an essential text for any print designer who wishes to create professional grade page layouts.


This second book, InDesign Type, by Nigel French, and published by Adobe Press in 2006, focuses on InDesign's sophisticated typographic controls and formatting features. It does a great job on explaining many of the time-honored typographic conventions of magazine and book publishing. Although it is written specifically for CS2, the majority of the techniques are applicable to later CS versions. This book holds up very well over time.