Michael Wolff on colour

Michael Wolff, co-founder of Wolff Olins, talks about branding, ways of seeing and the muscles of curiosity, appreciation and imagination.

Erik Spiekermann on Gestalten.tv

Erik Spiekermann - Putting Back the Face into Typeface from Gestalten on Vimeo.
Erik Spiekermann makes some very interesting observations on the importance of graphic design and communication and successfully compares type to music. ALL of Gestalten.tv's video interviews are worth a browse.

Studio Spotlight: New Bohemia Signs

New Bohemia Signs is the San Fransisco based lettering and sign painting studio responsible for some of the most beautiful hand painted sings around San Fran. Everything from A-stands to windows paintings, from gilding to signs, they use a variety of hand-rendered font styles and techniques, including gold leaf. Their portfolio is a treat to browse though, but the making-of is even more interesting. A dying art revived, hand painted signs were big in the States and the world, long before vinyl and printing techniques came along.The imperfections of hand-rendered makes it that much more beautiful and nostalgic. Have a look at their Flickr account too.

Below is a FontShop interview with Bohemia Signs' Damon Styer.

Typedesigner: Jim Parkinson

You may not know Jim Parkinson's name, but you know his work. He's designed (and redesigned) more newspaper nameplates around the world, in the world, than any other designer. His logo for RollingStone magazine is world recognizably famous, as well as his refined InStyle and Newsweek magazine logos. FontShop has uploads with some of the big names in typedesign, but this interview with Jim caught my eye, partly because of his work, but mainly because he's one of the more entertaining typedesigners who stands out amongst the otherwise humour-lacking, oh-so-serious typedesigners.

Also see MyFonts' 2008 Newsletter featuring Jim here with a samples of fonts he's designed.