Visiting Linotype & Machinery
I visited the revitalized manufacturing site of the British Linotype company and toured the buildings
From the Desk of Doug Wilson
Thoughts on typography, cycling, technology, & more.
Latest posts
Writing About Gotham
Gotham turns 25 years old and I wrote about its creation
In Search of a Death Certificate
I found the official death certificate of Ottmar Mergenthaler in order to understand how he died
Writing for Tobias Frere-Jones
I interviewed and wrote about Tobias Frere-Jones; one of the best type designers living today
Cracking the Linotype Printing Code
Now that I understand the code, I’m able to date most Linotype ephemera
New Additions to the Printing Films Archive
New films, better quality, more to enjoy!
Coit Tower Newspaper Mural
There is a nice mural with three Linotypes inside the Coit Tower
Writing Words About Letters
Writing about fonts is not easy, but here are my thoughts and advice
Coding with Character
Monospaced fonts are no longer just utilitarian tools—they can also be playful & fun
Skateboarding as a Path to Creativity
Like many young kids, I got into skateboarding and it made a lasting impact on my life
On Opinion, Taste, and Expertise
Doug has finally learned to be less opinionated! Maybe!
The Box at the Museum
At the Ottmar Mergenthaler museum in Germany, I discovered a box of rare images
“The Linotype Bulletin” Astrological Magazine Covers
Illustrator Walter Meyner made six covers in 1914, combining the Linotype & astrological signs
Globe Haul ST - Short Term Review
I bought a Globe Haul ST e-cargo bike and love it so far.
Denver 76 - Part One: The Story
Denver remains the only city to reject hosting the Olympics after being selected by the IOC
The ABCs of XYZ
I helped my friends at XYZ Type launch their new website and wrote some words too.
Announcing the Linotype Book Project
I’m writing a book about the Linotype and you should sign up for the newsletter!
Cataloging My Books
I got some great bookshelves and cataloged my whole library online!
The Printing Films Archive
I made a website where you can see old printing and typography films
The Beautiful Islands of San Serriffe
Some printers at a newspaper in the UK made a funny joke about fake islands
“Linotype: The Film” - 10 Years On
We made a film about an old machine and surprisingly, people liked it…
The Story of Metro Nova
When people ask me “What is your favorite font?” now I can point them to this blog post
Jim Ford & “The Sounds of Typography”
This expressive typeface attempts to channel the energy of jazz improvisation
Airports, Ambassadors, & the Panic of 1896
Big money was needed to fund the development of the Linotype, but times were also tough
Denver 76 - Part Three: The Design
When pitching for the Olympics, you’re going to want to hire the best designers you can. That’s exactly what Denver did, and they made some pretty great stuff.
Denver 76 - Part Two: The Imagined Infrastructure
Although Denver eventually rejected hosting the 1976 Winter Olympics, they had fascinating plans for infrastructure and event locations
Typographic Telegraphic Commercial Codes
When telegrams were common, commercial codes saved money, reduced confusion, & cheated the system
This Land is Your Land
Native Americans have lived in Colorado for thousands of years, while I’ve lived here for five.
Divided Highways
As with many things in America, the history of our greatest achievements is complicated and baised
The Designer’s Designer - Part Two
Bruce Kennett is proud of his book and isn’t sick of Dwiggins just yet
The Designer’s Designer - Part One
Learn who coined the term “Graphic Design” and created my favorite typeface of all time
Briar Levit - Graphic Means
Watch this film about typesetting & printing technologies you probably haven’t heard about
New Work: Delve Fonts
We made a new website all about fonts!
Building a Typographic System
Surprise! We spent a long time thinking about fonts.
On the Death of Someone Great
The world is exceptionally dark right now, but I’m choosing to search for hope
Winter Cycling Tips
Breathability, multiple layers, and a spreadsheet are the keys to a successful cold-weather ride
Seek and Diverge
I like riding a bike and I think you might too.
New Work: Keybase Book
Using super-awesome illustrations, we built a documentation website that wasn’t boring