Pilcrow Pith

Everyone knows that to squoosh™ text is a cardinal sin. Or if they don’t know it, they should! However, as with every rule, there are exceptions (which are governed by more rules). There are certain typefaces that hold up quite well to a bit of horizontal manipulation, and in fact, there are some that exist that have been designed to withstand this type of abuse. Among these types that have been built with this in mind are the types of Gerard Unger. I’ve been blessed to sit in lectures and to be guided by Mr. Unger in some typeface design workshops this week. Working with him in this way has made me think of what makes a typeface elastic so that it can be squooshed or stretched without losing its spring. He spelled it all out for us this afternoon.

There are two aspects within a typeface that allow for horizontal distortion. The first is that the contrast must be high: horizontal strokes must be thinner than horizontal strokes. The second is that curved parts must be somewhat squarish. These two factors in combination will give a typeface some elasticity, which will allow for some degree of squooshing, but don’t overdo it!