Category Archives: typography / design

To Serif or not to Serif?

Posted on January 14, 2012 by Ian Whiteman

There was a time when to make something look cutting edge you just avoided serifs, those little embellishments on a letter of type that stops it looking like a block of wood. It was that simple. Helvetica as opposed to … Continue reading →

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The Psychological Study of Typography

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

This might all be a bit arcane for most people but as everyone these days reads typeset text (when did you last get a handwritten letter?) then it’s just as well you know what underpins the science and craft of … Continue reading →

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Maqamats, Sacred Geometry and the Celestial Worlds

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

For years I have tried to understand what the maqams are (or maqamats, known as nawbas in Morocco) and I hope these few words here don’t confuse things further. In these posts I have always sought out subjects where the global homogenisation … Continue reading →

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Write it! Sing it!

Posted on November 20, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

Where I live there are so many alternative therapies on offer up and down our valley. They include such things as underwater ti-chi to sacral osteopathy, magnet therapy, raw food cults etc., and many you have never heard of before. … Continue reading →

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The Art of Art

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

In the aftermath of Steve Jobs’ passing various snippets about his life became public or better known to the public. Whilst being beatified as a genius by some and demonised as a monster by others there were certain sentiments which … Continue reading →

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Death and Taxes

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

It’s the old chestnut. Death and taxes: the two inevitable facts of life except taxes are avoidable if you know how, whereas death is not. The other day a female stand up comedienne named Lucy Montgomery stated on BBC Extra … Continue reading →

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Reviving Andalusi script part 2

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

The Style The initial impression of ancient Andalusi scripts is of something beautiful and dynamic, executed quickly and accurately but also with a free spirit, each calligrapher creating their own unique ligatures and flourishes, though still somehow within the compass … Continue reading →

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Reviving Andalusi calligraphy part 1

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

For most people, calligraphy and especially arabic calligraphy is an arcane subject but it’s been a life long involvement for me and I want to introduce some of my own observations on this blog which as far as I can … Continue reading →

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Smoke Signals

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

I discovered the other day, as one does, a web site called http://www.cybergrot who are/were selling an old used box of Abdullah cigarettes. It was empty except strangely, for one remaining cigarette. Really quite a work of art. I find … Continue reading →

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Two new books

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Ian Whiteman

A couple of quite different books just completed. The Abrahamic Archetype was commissioned by Archetype publishers in London for whom I have worked for many years. Archetype appreciate nice typesetting and have an experienced eye for detail. Baskerville is a typeface which … Continue reading →

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