When the Society of Typographic Aficionados approached Hamish Muir and Paul McNeil to develop the identity for TypeCon2016, we were fully expecting something that embodied what MuirMcNeil is known for … a striking, cohesive, and ultimately modular design system.
MuirMcNeil constructed a systematic visual hierarchy that operates across all graphic components. The entire system is based on an extensive set of custom parametric typefaces and corresponding background panels, utilizing black and PMS 802C neon green.
The communication of information is driven by the content, therefore the visual structure vary accordingly within a set of defined constraints. In individual applications, different levels of information are emphasized or diminished as required, using predefined formats.
A layered modular type system named MMcN TwoPoint consists of 56 base fonts. Through controlled layering, these base fonts end up providing over 3,100 additional typographic configurations to play with.
4 comments
Richard Fink
April 7, 2016
Love it. It’s deep, really. My cup of tea.
Grant Hutchinson
April 7, 2016
Glad you like it, Richard.
There’s still a lot more to come. Wait until you see some of the printed collateral.
Walter
April 8, 2016
Will someone post Erik & Just’s “BitPull” from circa 1990? This ID owes a HUGE debt to that …
Grant Hutchinson
April 8, 2016
Walter, here you go …
I agree that some of the generative bitmap and grid-based type experiments (BitPull, Roboletters, Robotfonts) produced by Just van Rossum and Erik van Blokland are an obvious influence, there are plenty of other examples of contemporary modular or parametric type systems. The early fonts of Lucas de Groot come to mind.
Also, Wim Crowel for that matter.