I'm sorry, but I have to say it's one I've made. :-)
Geometrically it's not tilted, but thanks to those "faux serifs" it actually looks like it's tilting (especially in smaller sizes), and that's a rare attribute I've always liked in a hyphen (like in some really old fonts).
Perhaps Craig is having a laugh - 'Exactly how nerdy can these people be? I'll see if they can get worked up over a period, nah they won't bite, I know! a hyphen'.
It's definitely nerdy. What else is new around here?
But maybe one actually useful thing that can (more like might, eventually) come out of this thread is the realization that we don't use the hyphen enough; we're obsessed with fusing words - we think we're being efficient and/or modern - but in reality we're often reducing readability. Favorite example: readjust.
And once we realize that, this thread might then become more relevant! :-)
But really, in any case, half our story is minding the details.
Adjunct discussion:
Are there any issues with making a hyphen something besides -the expected- simple rectangle? Like maybe its potential (in fact common) usage as a minus?
I just chopped the upper-left and lower-right corners a little so they look rounded at large sizes (though you can't tell at text sizes) and stuck actual semiserifs on the other two. When it's small it seems to slant. When it's big it just looks like it has a funny shape. And it seems a little too heavy now, but I think it has charm.
Here's my Braganza example I mentioned but didn't depict. The letters obviously have rather limited application, but I am enchanted by the asymmetrical hyphen.
I'm not deadly serious with this thread, but my interest in your thoughts is genuine. Here's what led to the question: I am considering a wordmark design for a company that has a prefix as its entire name. I was thinking of using a crisp sans for the letters, but something more lively than a rectangle for the hyphen (which then might also serve by itself as a logo). This got me looking through the fonts on my computer, and I was surprised to find so few that were interesting.
> using a crisp sans for the letters, but something more lively than a rectangle for the hyphen
The risk however is for the hyphen to drop out of a "reading" of the logo because it's so different in style, since it's an "outsider" character anyway. I think it can be done, you just have to be careful.
But having what I said earlier - that Braganza hyphen is pretty damn tasty!
The late, great Phill Grimshaw was one of my inspirations to become a type designer, he did some fantastic stuff, was so prolific, but died way too young.
>> using a crisp sans for the letters, but something more lively than a rectangle for the hyphen
>The risk however is for the hyphen to drop out of a “reading” of the logo because it’s so different in style, since it’s an “outsider” character anyway. I think it can be done, you just have to be careful.
The proportions and spacing of hyphens are more critical than the plainness of their shape.
Here's a thought (for OT font developers), and it could also be applied to the spacing of punctuation:
Have two identical-glyph hyphen characters, but kern them differently.
That way you can use one for regular combinations, and the other for problem combinations such as Y-T, in the case feature perhaps.
18.Oct.2006 8.36am
I'm sorry, but I have to say it's one I've made. :-)
Geometrically it's not tilted, but thanks to those "faux serifs" it actually looks like it's tilting (especially in smaller sizes), and that's a rare attribute I've always liked in a hyphen (like in some really old fonts).
hhp
18.Oct.2006 9.32am
3D!
18.Oct.2006 9.53am
Never noticed the hyph-
ens in typefaces, will defi-
nitely let you If i lik-
es one from now.
---------------------------
19.Oct.2006 1.31am
Nothing fancy but a well-used em-hyphen excites me.
19.Oct.2006 2.29am
I'm sorry, but I can't work up much enthusiasm for hyphens.
Nick Cooke
19.Oct.2006 4.43am
The one betweem Muller and Brockmann :-)
ChrisL
19.Oct.2006 7.46am
I agree with Nick, this is a silly thread.
19.Oct.2006 8.38am
Perhaps Craig is having a laugh - 'Exactly how nerdy can these people be? I'll see if they can get worked up over a period, nah they won't bite, I know! a hyphen'.
Nick Cooke
19.Oct.2006 8.56am
It's definitely nerdy. What else is new around here?
But maybe one actually useful thing that can (more like might, eventually) come out of this thread is the realization that we don't use the hyphen enough; we're obsessed with fusing words - we think we're being efficient and/or modern - but in reality we're often reducing readability. Favorite example: readjust.
And once we realize that, this thread might then become more relevant! :-)
But really, in any case, half our story is minding the details.
hhp
19.Oct.2006 8.59am
Adjunct discussion:
Are there any issues with making a hyphen something besides -the expected- simple rectangle? Like maybe its potential (in fact common) usage as a minus?
hhp
19.Oct.2006 11.04am
Here's one of mine that I particularly like:
I just chopped the upper-left and lower-right corners a little so they look rounded at large sizes (though you can't tell at text sizes) and stuck actual semiserifs on the other two. When it's small it seems to slant. When it's big it just looks like it has a funny shape. And it seems a little too heavy now, but I think it has charm.
19.Oct.2006 2.10pm
Here's my Braganza example I mentioned but didn't depict. The letters obviously have rather limited application, but I am enchanted by the asymmetrical hyphen.
I'm not deadly serious with this thread, but my interest in your thoughts is genuine. Here's what led to the question: I am considering a wordmark design for a company that has a prefix as its entire name. I was thinking of using a crisp sans for the letters, but something more lively than a rectangle for the hyphen (which then might also serve by itself as a logo). This got me looking through the fonts on my computer, and I was surprised to find so few that were interesting.
@WurdBendur: I like it.
19.Oct.2006 2.37pm
> using a crisp sans for the letters, but something more lively than a rectangle for the hyphen
The risk however is for the hyphen to drop out of a "reading" of the logo because it's so different in style, since it's an "outsider" character anyway. I think it can be done, you just have to be careful.
hhp
19.Oct.2006 3.07pm
>What's your favorite hyphen?
Here's mine... http://www.hyphenpress.co.uk/
This one could be fun...
http://www.pubcrawler.com/Template/dsp_restaurant_zoom.cfm/flat/ID=170755
In Germany hyphens are illegal...
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05286/588031.stm
19.Oct.2006 5.47pm
Looks like Si dashed right out and got a few links.
ChrisL
22.Oct.2006 12.15am
Too funny, Nick!
Anyways, my pick.
22.Oct.2006 7.52pm
Awesome.
hhp
23.Oct.2006 1.36am
But having what I said earlier - that Braganza hyphen is pretty damn tasty!
The late, great Phill Grimshaw was one of my inspirations to become a type designer, he did some fantastic stuff, was so prolific, but died way too young.
Phill Grimshaw
Nick Cooke
13.Nov.2006 11.01am
>> using a crisp sans for the letters, but something more lively than a rectangle for the hyphen
>The risk however is for the hyphen to drop out of a “reading” of the logo because it’s so different in style, since it’s an “outsider” character anyway. I think it can be done, you just have to be careful.
I tried to be careful and here is the result:
Opinions welcome.
13.Nov.2006 11.09am
I think it's either too much or too little.
The hyphen stands out, but unsurely.
hhp
13.Nov.2006 11.20am
The proportions and spacing of hyphens are more critical than the plainness of their shape.
Here's a thought (for OT font developers), and it could also be applied to the spacing of punctuation:
Have two identical-glyph hyphen characters, but kern them differently.
That way you can use one for regular combinations, and the other for problem combinations such as Y-T, in the case feature perhaps.