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Gore’s choice 07 Jan 2010
Last summer, I received a phone call from Michael, a designer from mgmtdesign in Brooklyn, New York. After the initial how-do-you-do’s, he explained that they were designing a new book for Al Gore, Our Choice, the sequel to An Inconvenient Truth.
“Great project”, I said.
And it got even better. They had chosen Brioni, one of our typefaces, for the body text.
“And this is why I am calling now”, said Michael, his voice dropping a level. “You see, Al is really involved with the project and we spend a lot of time working together in the publisher’s office. When he was reviewing the proofs, he had a comment about the typeface.”
I took a deep breath and asked what the comment was.
“Basically, he wants you to change the numeral one.”
“Interesting”, I said. “And how did he come to this conclusion?”
“Well, in the book there’re a lot of examples of scientific nomenclature and this particular numeral one is causing confusion when it’s combined with capitals.”
Brioni is a book typeface and comes with old style figures. Because of the fairly low x-height, the numeral one looks like a Roman one, like a shorter version of a capital letter I. It looks very elegant, but when combined into acronyms, it could be confusing.
“OK, we’ll have a look.”
I called Nikola, the author of the font, and informed him of the situation.
“Hi Nikola, Al Gore wants you to change the numeral one in Brioni.”
“Huh?!”
I explained, and Nikola agreed to make some modifications. That same day, we sketched alternatives, printed samples, tweaked it a bit further, made new fonts, sent them to New York, and waited for the reaction.
A short email arrived the next day. Al liked the change.
“There was a great cheer from upstairs when they presented the layouts in question to Al. So I would say that it is good to go”, the email read.
Al was right. The new numeral is a lot less confusing when combined with letters. We already changed it for all other weights of Brioni. We’ll call this ‘Gore’s choice’.
. . .
If you have purchased a licence to Brioni, you can download a free update of the fonts from your online account.
72 comments
JPMcKern, 22 Jul 2010
Agreeing with all who prefer the new 1, I find it odd that the older shortcap-looking-I version was ever seriously put forward. Wasn't this problem awfully predictable?
Brian Miller, 4 Mar 2010
Very interesting story! I am conflicted, however:
Al Gore IS a douche... and this is not how this should have been resolved. Anyone familiar with InDesign, would have been able to swap all the 1's with a font that looks like he wanted, and was necessary for this particular application, to avoid ambiguity.
The typeface artist must've been flattered by Mr. Gore's attention, and allowed his personal creativity to be compromised.
Thanks Al!
Al Gore IS a douche... and this is not how this should have been resolved. Anyone familiar with InDesign, would have been able to swap all the 1's with a font that looks like he wanted, and was necessary for this particular application, to avoid ambiguity.
The typeface artist must've been flattered by Mr. Gore's attention, and allowed his personal creativity to be compromised.
Thanks Al!
Joe Lotz, 18 Feb 2010
Good story! I like the new 1 better.
Tori, 17 Feb 2010
Both 1s are beautifully crafted and suits the font face well. Kudos! I love a flexible font as well as a flexible designer.
Robert Tombs, 12 Feb 2010
Interesting discussion. FF Quadraat has small capital numerals that are lining and that use a revised "1" like your modified "1". This could also be a solution. Nothing against Al Gore but my preference is your original "1".
Georg Portenkirchner, 2 Feb 2010
Really funny story! :-) The new 1 really looks better.
Douglas Schapero, 16 Jan 2010
An example of what it's all about: commitment, caring, and effective collaboration on the small stuff. Not unimportant. In the daily cumulative, it's what move us towards sustainability.
GoCatGo, 15 Jan 2010
A great story about collaboration. Thanks!
Dr W, 14 Jan 2010
I continue to find it fascinating (and appalling) to see how almost everyone who has commented on the font change has missed or ignored Gore's key observation that the use of "I" for"one" in scientific issues creates confusion.
Jeff, 14 Jan 2010
"Al Gore and the Font People" should be a band
Toby Thain, 13 Jan 2010
The off-topic remarks on Gore are just tiresome, people.
Dan, 13 Jan 2010
Very cool! Congrats on the exposure.
NaniPrints, 13 Jan 2010
Great story, pretty font, commendable customer service.
I had to laugh at the H1N1 example. HINI. Funny!
I had to laugh at the H1N1 example. HINI. Funny!
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, 12 Jan 2010
If you say anything about Al Gore, you get a bunch of peabrained commenters popping up to post off-topic derogatory remarks about him. They aren't original, and they seldom engage with any actual issues, but doing it makes them briefly feel smart.
Dr W, 12 Jan 2010
For years I have been irritated by fonts for which the numeral "one" is indistinguishable from the ancient Roman "one" which is further indistinguishable from the capital letter form of the 9th letter of the alphabet. Many books use the capital I form of the "one" in their pagination numerals. This report of Gore's request thus came as a significant relief for me: it isn't just me that has this problem. Bravo to Al and the font people!!
BR, 12 Jan 2010
Shouldn't he be using Ecofont
ed, 12 Jan 2010
I somehow doubt you would have changed it if the suggestion would have come from a non-famous individual. I suspect you'd have been more resistant to it.
In this case, the change should have been a "no brainer".
In this case, the change should have been a "no brainer".
Susan, 12 Jan 2010
Good God, way to drag politics into everything, commenters. I enjoyed the anecdote.
LoneStar, 12 Jan 2010
RE: Ben Lawson's 1/11 comment about 'conservative dyspepsia'.
Gee, Ben, I've read the comments and I don't see a single one that can be attributed to a 'conservative'. A number of comments disagree with Al's positions (primarily AGW) or his past actions, but none are specifically 'conservative', unless by 'conservative' you mean any comment that disagrees in any way with someone who has become a liberal icon/martyr. Way to live up to those 'liberal' tropes of inclusivity, broadmindedness, and openness. You're an example to us all......
Gee, Ben, I've read the comments and I don't see a single one that can be attributed to a 'conservative'. A number of comments disagree with Al's positions (primarily AGW) or his past actions, but none are specifically 'conservative', unless by 'conservative' you mean any comment that disagrees in any way with someone who has become a liberal icon/martyr. Way to live up to those 'liberal' tropes of inclusivity, broadmindedness, and openness. You're an example to us all......
Jack Albright, 12 Jan 2010
This makes perfect sense. Al is a good man, and obviously pays attention to detail. What is so wrong with that?
Bob, 12 Jan 2010
I can't believe people actually worry about this stuff, let alone get paid to do it. Wow. Oh and Gore = Douche.
L Nettlea, 12 Jan 2010
Amazing and yet the cover of his book has a southern hemisphere cyclone Photoshopped off the coast of North American.
ms. docweasel, 12 Jan 2010
Gore's got a lot of nerve. After all, everyone knows Obama is "The 1". He should have had some input on this.
Orion, 12 Jan 2010
Ohmygod. You mean from now on Al Gore is going to be able to say he invented the "1"?
Dantes, 12 Jan 2010
Heavy...what awesome customer service, served up with genius and humility both. God bless your souls and may Mother Gaia grant algore all of the megaton carbon footprint he blesses us with.
Loren, 12 Jan 2010
This gave me such a great laugh..thank you!
Rich, 12 Jan 2010
I am a Brioni change skeptic. I don't think all the data supports this radical reorganization of our Brioni way of life.
Jack, 12 Jan 2010
good for you for changing the font: being responsive to customers is your business.
Toby Thain, 12 Jan 2010
The commenters insisting it should never have been designed that way in the first place are clearly unfamiliar with the tradition of old-style figures. The original design is fully supported by precedent, it is the shrunken lining 1 that is the break from tradition. I hope the old glyph is still available in the font.
Henry A. Smith, 11 Jan 2010
Maybe I'm just a hard-ass, but it seems to me that such things should be the bread-and-butter, type-design 101 issues of type designers and, thus, should never have been designed/approved/delivered in its previous, problematic form if people were competent at their jobs.
André Mora, 11 Jan 2010
But will the oldstyle 1 remain accessible in Opentype? I like how Font Bureau's new Starling offers both options.
David Wogan, 11 Jan 2010
Nice change.
Peteyz, 11 Jan 2010
Like the font. Loathe the man.
Ben Lawson, 11 Jan 2010
Definitely a positive change... The O/0 and I/1 issue is not as trivial as some designers think!
It's also entertaining to see in the comments here that Al Gore still provokes so much conservative dyspepsia.
It's also entertaining to see in the comments here that Al Gore still provokes so much conservative dyspepsia.
Joe Clark, 11 Jan 2010
You’ve got two problems here: Oldstyle 1 should not look like I and acronyms should not be typeset in small caps.
http://blog.fawny.org/2010/01/11/goreschoice/
http://blog.fawny.org/2010/01/11/goreschoice/
Katharine, 11 Jan 2010
I'm no typographer, or even a designer, but this is a wonderful story (thank you for sharing it) and a tribute to you for listening to a client and making what seems to me to be a positive tweak in your lovely product.
Eden bentley, 11 Jan 2010
Love the story. For those who think it is not noteworthy, just want you to know there are people who are quietly thrilled by little jewels of perfection like this. My friends would never know I am interested in typefaces. maybe there are more closet typeface fans out there than we think. glad to hear from some of them here.
Thom, 11 Jan 2010
The story is excellent. The comments are, as usual, even better, if by better one means completely missing the point.
chris, 11 Jan 2010
too bad Al couldn't show that attention to detail to make sure his claims were actually true, protecting America, making sure his boss didn't do anything to get impeached, raising taxes on the working class, etc, etc. Al seems to be quite selective on what he cares about.
Bob Hanson, 11 Jan 2010
The font is not good if Al Gore can find a fault
advocatusdiaboli, 11 Jan 2010
"But would it be mentionable if that client were not Al Gore? "
Well youg Padawan, there was you chance at your 15 minutes but you let Al Gore take it away from you. No surprise, he's a master and you still have much to learn.
Well youg Padawan, there was you chance at your 15 minutes but you let Al Gore take it away from you. No surprise, he's a master and you still have much to learn.
Chris Pederson, 11 Jan 2010
otherwise we might be discussing the "heinie" virus (HINI)
Lyle Miller, 11 Jan 2010
Gore was realistic here. Brioni's original numeral 1 was not a good idea: it confuses. The type designer put form ahead of function, and subsequently lost the ability to defend the design decision as a result.
Derek, 11 Jan 2010
Al Gore invented fonts.
Scott, 11 Jan 2010
I don't speak font-language, but would argue that the design of the numeral 1 is out of character. It would be more in keeping if the vertical part of the 1 had a varying width and the horizontal part at the base were eliminated.
Its a great improvement over the original though.
Its a great improvement over the original though.
Total, 11 Jan 2010
"But would it be mentionable if that client were not Al Gore? "
No, it wouldn't. So what?
No, it wouldn't. So what?
unnikrishna, 11 Jan 2010
i had to like it! but what if it was me asking you to change it for me?
dmccall, 11 Jan 2010
OMG. He is SO SMART. Usually people who read never ever notice typeface issues. He is so smart that he should be president, and his perception is all I need to know that everything that he claims about the environment is correct. What a genius.
Heike, 11 Jan 2010
What a lovely client. Thanks for sharing this story.
Timteo Girvoni, 10 Jan 2010
Given the sense of detail, and Gore's leadership in telling the story -- and comprehending these details -- it's a fabulous "tuning" of an already great font. Funny, when I first read the headline from a friend, I'd presumed it was either a new suit, matching the script of the Brioni logo, or somehow matching the duplication of that earlier mark and typography, from way back.
That brand, Brioni, too, has a hint of the authentic: http://www.girvin.com/blog/?p=679. Fonts, and the tuning of them. Love that. It's a never-ending saga, http://www.girvin.com/blog/?p=1494. thanks all, good story!
tim g.
That brand, Brioni, too, has a hint of the authentic: http://www.girvin.com/blog/?p=679. Fonts, and the tuning of them. Love that. It's a never-ending saga, http://www.girvin.com/blog/?p=1494. thanks all, good story!
tim g.
Peter Biľak, 8 Jan 2010
Thank you everyone.
The funny thing is that we do such modifications almost everyday, but they never get as much attention as if a Nobel prize winner asked for it personally. And this was a reasonable request, compared to others that we sometimes receive. Well spotted, and other users can benefit from these change as we offer it as a free update.
@Michael Ummels
Brioni Pro will come out later in 2010. Cyrillic is ready, but we are still working on the Greek. There is over 1000 new glyphs to draw per style, so it takes some time.
The funny thing is that we do such modifications almost everyday, but they never get as much attention as if a Nobel prize winner asked for it personally. And this was a reasonable request, compared to others that we sometimes receive. Well spotted, and other users can benefit from these change as we offer it as a free update.
@Michael Ummels
Brioni Pro will come out later in 2010. Cyrillic is ready, but we are still working on the Greek. There is over 1000 new glyphs to draw per style, so it takes some time.
Alessandro Segalini, 8 Jan 2010
Cleverness and common sense in this nice story for a great typeface, congrats; I bet Lord Christopher Monckton would agree on that — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stij8sUybx0
Helge Rieder , 8 Jan 2010
Nice story about competent client and open minded designers. But would it be mentionable if that client were not Al Gore? By the way "Brioni" is a great typeface.
Jackie, 8 Jan 2010
The new numeral 1 looks great. I like it better, and Al Gore is a very perceptive, meticulous intelligent person, with a lot of good ideas!
Jack Yan, 7 Jan 2010
I love Brioni—great to hear of its high-profile exposure.
Jean François Porchez, 7 Jan 2010
Interesting story, it just prove that typeface designers are nice guys with open mind.
Bravo et bien vu! Bonne pub pour Typotheque.
Bravo et bien vu! Bonne pub pour Typotheque.
Juan Montoreano, 7 Jan 2010
I guess something similar could happen with the o/s zero and the s/c "o"...
That´s a tough one.
That´s a tough one.
Luke Dorny, 7 Jan 2010
Great work, Typotheque, Nicola, Al, and everyone. can't wait to see the book in print!
linked here via http://twitter.com/espiekermann/status/7493033571
linked here via http://twitter.com/espiekermann/status/7493033571
erik spiekermann, 7 Jan 2010
Good point. A lot of o/s numerals suffer from that confusion. US publications use a lot of acronyms, and if you use s/c for those, the Roman style 1 could indeed be confused with a cap I. When we designed the text faces for the Economist back in 2000, we also had to consider that.
Scott Sullivan, 7 Jan 2010
Al Gore is such a badass
Daniel Thai, 7 Jan 2010
Wow. Very nice attention to detail by Al Gore and very nice adaptation of your typeface. Great story.
John S. Hall, 7 Jan 2010
Talk about an inconvenient truth! ;)
Paul Irish, 7 Jan 2010
Very cool. Congrats on the high profile use of a gorgeous typeface.
Robert, 7 Jan 2010
Sounds incredible - so much attention to details from a man who lived in politcs.
Michael Ummels, 7 Jan 2010
By the way, when will Brioni be released as an OpenType Pro font with Greek and Cyrillic? Definitely looking foward to this.
Robert, 7 Jan 2010
Sounds incredible, so much attention for details from a man who did politics.
JB, 7 Jan 2010
wow, reading this definitely made my day.
Martin Pecina, 7 Jan 2010
Al Gore is my man. :) When designing books, typographers often combine OSF with small caps—and problem occurs many times. In case of Brioni (and any other original typeface) the solution is simple, because there is no crucial link to historical model to keep. But when you release some kind of type revival, this could be the kind of change you can not make without loosing your soul. :)
Creative ideas, 7 Jan 2010
Beautiful story!
Ian O\'Dea, 7 Jan 2010
This is awesome—not only because you were so dedicated to your customers that you were able to accept a legitimate criticism, but because Al Gore himself cared so much about the typeface that he didn't just switch to a different one.
Michael Pehl, 7 Jan 2010
funny story :)
Daniel Campos, 7 Jan 2010
Great! =)
