What are all of your thoughts on communicating the ideals of "technology" typographically without going to the so often used square sans serif typefaces with sharp "techy" feel that is so overused. any suggestions?
First you probably have to stop thingking about technology as existing inventions (i.e, 'techy' etc.)
Technology really refers to the inventions which we haven't given a name to yet.
tech‧nol‧o‧gy /tɛkˈnɒlədʒi/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[tek-nol-uh-jee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science.
2. the terminology of an art, science, etc.; technical nomenclature.
3. a technological process, invention, method, or the like.
4. the sum of the ways in which social groups provide themselves with the material objects of their civilization.
[Origin: 1605–15; < Gk technología systematic treatment. See techno-, -logy]
I think a lot of people used to use DIN and Eurostile for this. To the point of complete overkill. Which is why you're wanting to avoid the squared sans serifs. Myself I would let the type do what the type does (for the reasons above) and attempt to convey 'technology' otherwise; imagery, colour, pattern, tone, layout, stock or print process perhaps.
I would go for 'humanized technology' instead, with light weight contemporary slabs. They tend to look sharp on paper, but still warm enough. I guess you could try the regular weight, too, and see which one you like the best.
Try Caecilia, Chapparal or Nexus (I don't know if the latter has a light weight, though.)
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1 Oct 2006 — 2:43pm
First you probably have to stop thingking about technology as existing inventions (i.e, 'techy' etc.)
Technology really refers to the inventions which we haven't given a name to yet.
tech‧nol‧o‧gy /tɛkˈnɒlədʒi/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[tek-nol-uh-jee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science.
2. the terminology of an art, science, etc.; technical nomenclature.
3. a technological process, invention, method, or the like.
4. the sum of the ways in which social groups provide themselves with the material objects of their civilization.
[Origin: 1605–15; < Gk technología systematic treatment. See techno-, -logy]
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Paul Ducco
Graphic Design, Melbourne
1 Oct 2006 — 2:44pm
Go Scala Sans in case the subject is on the ideological side of ideals.
Sebastian
1 Oct 2006 — 3:04pm
How about Marconi, a pioneering digital font for sure.
The Truth shall set you free
1 Oct 2006 — 3:37pm
http://www.graphos.org/courier.html
1 Oct 2006 — 4:03pm
I think a lot of people used to use DIN and Eurostile for this. To the point of complete overkill. Which is why you're wanting to avoid the squared sans serifs. Myself I would let the type do what the type does (for the reasons above) and attempt to convey 'technology' otherwise; imagery, colour, pattern, tone, layout, stock or print process perhaps.
1 Oct 2006 — 7:44pm
I would go for 'humanized technology' instead, with light weight contemporary slabs. They tend to look sharp on paper, but still warm enough. I guess you could try the regular weight, too, and see which one you like the best.
Try Caecilia, Chapparal or Nexus (I don't know if the latter has a light weight, though.)