New font release: Pompeian Cursive is a calligraphically-inspired display typeface featuring a limited number of alternate characters and a handful of graceful ligatures. A lively set of non-lining numerals accompanies, as well as a few calligraphically-inspired flourishes for ornament.

The history of this typeface:
Oswald Cooper’s relationship with the Barnhart Brothers & Spindler foundry was one instigated under the auspices of creating new styles of type in lieu of following stylistic trends. In 1927, BB&S requested that Cooper create a script-like cursive typeface design in step with Lucien Bernhard’s Schoenschrift and ATF’s similarly-styled Liberty typeface.

In response to BB&S’s desire to emulate instead of innovate, Cooper wrote to Mcarthur, “I am desolated to see Barnhart’s hoist the black flag. Your own efforts through the years to boost the foundry into a place in the sun as an originator seem wasted.” Still, Cooper took up the task at hand, creating a delicate, sophisticated type design which he named Pompeian Cursive. The typeface featured a limited number of alternate characters and a handful of graceful ligatures. A lively set of non-lining numerals accompanied, as well as a few calligraphically-inspired flourishes for ornamenting the end of lines of type accompanied the typeface, as well.

By reviewing the few remaining original drawings for the type, as well as copious samples of Pompeian Cursive from both Cooper & BB&S’ proofing process and period-specific type specimens, Wordshape presents the first digital version of this classic hybrid script/sans typeface, complete with all original alternate characters and ornaments. Pompeian Cursive has been intensively spaced and kerned for the finest setting for weddings, announcements, and general display work.

Available from MyFonts.

I have both of Yuichi Yokoyama’s latest books- The Garden and Outdoor in stock. Details here. Both are available for $35 postpaid (including shipping) via Paypal to ian {at} ianlynam.com.

I’m excited to announce my new signature keitai kisekae/cellphone theme for WKTokyoLab’s mobile device shop. Kisekae are sets of images that users can download to create a holistic theme for their phone.

The theme I created for the TokyoLab music label is called “Utopia” and is based on a music video that I did in collaboration with the Lab folks for NHK a few years ago. It is an animated modular pictorial utopian vision of Tokyo in the future.

The theme is completely animated, with custom-designed icons for battery power and signal strength, a smart display that analyzes the time of day and generates one of four different appropriate images (morning, afternoon, evening, night), mail sending screen, mail receiving screen, incoming and outgoing call screens, typographically considered menus, and a ton more stuff.

In Japan, you can use your phone to browse to this address and download the theme.

Many thanks to Bruce, Yoko, and the WKTokyoLab team for making such a cool project happen!

An article on digital coupons appeared in Friday’s New York Times detailing some of the data that is embedded in the coupons one might download from online retailers. The coupons look normal enough but their bar codes can contain large amounts of data, including identification about you, the customer, your internet address, Facebook page information, the search terms you used to find the coupon, and lots more. To get the sales pitch from one of the companies that facilitates this, have a look at RevTrax.

Have a listen to the Vanity Fair podcast “Writers Reading featuring Plazm editor Jon Raymond.

When his childhood friend’s sick father asked for help, Daryl was reluctant. But in the end, he made it his mission to find Benny. He searched the old neighborhood, but barely recognized the place, what with all the new condos and flashy storefronts. And when he found Benny at last, Daryl barely recognized him either. In this compelling short story from Livability: Stories (Bloomsbury), writer Jon Raymond reveals a character grappling with change, disillusionment, and a friendship gone awry. Raymond is the co-writer of the films Old Joy and Wendy and Lucy, adapted from stories in this collection.

Signed first edition copies of Livability are available from Plazm.com

New feature for Idea Magazine issue #340 called _Forms of Practice_, interviewing young designers.

This issue of Idea comes with a bonus satellite publication containing interviews with all of the designers and design studios featured in English and Japanese.

Artist/curator Nan Curtis, filmmaker/architecture critic Brian Libby and writer Floyd Skloot with host Nora Robertson dig into how Portland’s identity is reflected in art locally and to the outside world. The New Oregon Interview Series joins the White Stag Block Talk in exploring Portland’s evolving creative culture and how it is in conversation with other regions. University of Oregon White Stag Block, 70 NW Couch St., Tuesday, April 20th, 6-8 PM, open wine and beer bar, FREE.