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FontDiscovery 🖼️ 106: Just Can't Get Enough: Pixelated Medieval Font!

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FontDiscovery 🖼️ 106: Just Can't Get Enough: Pixelated Medieval Font!

Hua Shu
Jan 24
2
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FontDiscovery 🖼️ 106: Just Can't Get Enough: Pixelated Medieval Font!

fontdiscovery.typogram.co

Hey Everyone👋

Hope you are having a fantastic January so far! This week it's crunch time for us- putting the final touches on the app (walk through if you missed my post last week), updating the homepage with new details about the launch, and building the bug reporting and feedback process, which I manage to make with no code tools.

I can't wait to share more details with you soon! Meanwhile, enjoy this issue from our archive on one of my favorite weird medieval fonts - a pixelated black letter.

In this Issue…

  • Font of the Week: Heritage Display

  • Design Idea of the Week: Mascot

  • Color Inspiration of the Week: Team Lab

 Sample Heritage Display, font is created by Daniel Schriër
Sample of Heritage Display, Created by Daniel Schriër

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Font of the Week

Bring Your 'A' Game

Sometimes, the most innovative result comes from combining two drastically different elements. Today we discuss a font that does just that, with calligraphy (Blackletter) and arcade gaming (pixelation).  

8-bit graphics screen; source: Pinterest

Looks Familiar?

This iconic, 8-bit graphics screen is synonymous with the beginnings of video gaming. Due to the limitation of the hardware the graphics must take as little computer memory as possible. 8-bit made this possible, and as a result, it created a unique aesthetic that captured this early era.

Font Details 

Heritage is two drastically different styles mixed together, Blackletter and pixelation.  The shape of the font comes from Blackletter, a style of writing developed from Western Europe in the 11th Century. ( If you want a quick review, check out this issue). The pixelation effect result from the way Heritage Display is created: it is designed on a 25 * 25 grid.

img: Blackletter calligraphy example; source: FontsInUse
img: Blackletter calligraphy example; source: FontsInUse
Heritage Display being designed on 25 * 25 grid; source: Behance

How to use it for logos?

Heritage Display communicates vintage. Being a pixelated blackletter font, it has a unique vibe that is suited for a specific niche. When using, consider if its uniqueness and eccentricity are appropriate or your brand. If your brand has a unique spin on gaming, lifestyle, pop culture, tech, Heritage Display's kookiness can be an eye-catching addition to your graphics. 

How to use it for marketing?

You can draw attention to your graphics with an updated color palette to grab attention. Typically, colors associated with pixel fonts and Blackletters are gaming-or medieval-themed palettes. It can be interesting to combine Heritage Display with colors not associated with either of these topics (for example, pastel colors). Heritage Display is not user-friendly for body-size copies and is best for header-size copies. It can pair with Merriweather Sans. It has only one weight.

img: Heritage Display paired with Merriweather sans. This pairing works because both fonts show calligraphic influences
 Heritage Display paired with Merriweather sans. This pairing works because both fonts show calligraphic influences

Design Idea of the Week

Mascot 

We connect Mickey Mouse with Disney. We like Nintendo because of Mario. Sometimes it is easier for your audience to connect with your brand or product with a mascot figure. Many different brands like Mcdonald’s, KFC, Microsoft Office have used mascots. It may even boost growth for your product.

img: Clippy, Microsoft’s controversial mascot; source: Microsoft

Clippy, Microsoft’s controversial mascot; source: Microsoft


Color Inspiration of the Week

Team Lab

Can art ever be more than what's on a white wall? The answer is yes. Team Lab is one of the most famous interactive art collectives in Japan. Team Lab creates large, immersive exhibitions using combinations of lights and interactive technologies. Here you see one of the most well-known exhibitions featuring a pool of intractable koi fishes in the museum. Here is a video.

img: Team Lab’s colorful installation in Tokyo; source: Youtube
 Team Lab’s colorful installation in Tokyo

Creative Prompt 

Try drawing a mascot for your project. Grab a pencil and sketch out the first thing that comes to your mind. It can be anything you want, and don't stress about it being perfect. 


Thank you!

Thanks for being here for another week. Heritage Display is available here. 

Team Lab’s colorful installation in Tokyo; source: Youtube
Tips on how to use Heritage Display
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FontDiscovery 🖼️ 106: Just Can't Get Enough: Pixelated Medieval Font!

fontdiscovery.typogram.co
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