Can a font really describe someone?
January 15, 2012 7:34 AM Subscribe
Having a partial tattoo-sleeve inked this month; could use some feedback on the personality of fonts/typefaces
This month my partial sleeve goes on- it's planned for both arms but firstly for the right. It's a design of two 19th century pin-bolt shackles at upper arm and wrist with an old-design metal chain that winds around the arm between the two.
Each link of the chain is large enough to hold a person's name; I hadn't planned anything about the fonts previously. But a friend asked me which ones I'd use for which name, which got me thinking- is it possible to argue that a person's personality can be represented by a font? It seems unlikely, since there are thousands; on anything more than the most simplistic level, at least.
If it could be argued to be possible, then which font would you use for these people?
1) Older, conservative British male, working-class, reactionary.
2) Erratic young Scottish woman from Glasgow, drug-addicted, chaotic and unconventional.
Any ideas would be appreciated- I know it's an utterly bizarre question.
This month my partial sleeve goes on- it's planned for both arms but firstly for the right. It's a design of two 19th century pin-bolt shackles at upper arm and wrist with an old-design metal chain that winds around the arm between the two.
Each link of the chain is large enough to hold a person's name; I hadn't planned anything about the fonts previously. But a friend asked me which ones I'd use for which name, which got me thinking- is it possible to argue that a person's personality can be represented by a font? It seems unlikely, since there are thousands; on anything more than the most simplistic level, at least.
If it could be argued to be possible, then which font would you use for these people?
1) Older, conservative British male, working-class, reactionary.
2) Erratic young Scottish woman from Glasgow, drug-addicted, chaotic and unconventional.
Any ideas would be appreciated- I know it's an utterly bizarre question.
I am not a student of type, so take this with a huge caveat on that basis, please - this is just my immediate gut reaction.
Based on what I know of British older, working class, male, conservative types (hi, dad), I immediately thought I would probably use something like the typical copperplate / script-y handwriting they were all taught in school in the past. Dad's writing is something like Lucidia Calligraphy, for example, though probably more "slurred". Mom's was similar, so that quite formal style of handwriting was A Thing, I think.
My immediate reaction to your description of the other person is something actually quite unformed and childish in a way.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 7:59 AM on January 15, 2012
Based on what I know of British older, working class, male, conservative types (hi, dad), I immediately thought I would probably use something like the typical copperplate / script-y handwriting they were all taught in school in the past. Dad's writing is something like Lucidia Calligraphy, for example, though probably more "slurred". Mom's was similar, so that quite formal style of handwriting was A Thing, I think.
My immediate reaction to your description of the other person is something actually quite unformed and childish in a way.
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 7:59 AM on January 15, 2012
My first thoughts about fonts that would fit person no. 1 were something from tabloid newspaper back pages, beermats, betting slips, wrestling posters, or the like...
For person no. 2, perhaps something from a prescription label?
posted by misteraitch at 8:22 AM on January 15, 2012
For person no. 2, perhaps something from a prescription label?
posted by misteraitch at 8:22 AM on January 15, 2012
As a lover of both type and tattoo design, I would keep it simple and choose one font for everyone. Keep readability in mind - it sounds like these names are ultimately going to be pretty small on your skin.
If it were me, I'd choose a typeface that related to the overall design of the tattoo - since you're thinking early 19th century metalwork, I'd probably do something like Baskerville. Though YMMV of course about whether you want a serifed font, in terms of size and clarity.
posted by Sara C. at 9:36 AM on January 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
If it were me, I'd choose a typeface that related to the overall design of the tattoo - since you're thinking early 19th century metalwork, I'd probably do something like Baskerville. Though YMMV of course about whether you want a serifed font, in terms of size and clarity.
posted by Sara C. at 9:36 AM on January 15, 2012 [4 favorites]
Sara C. speaks my mind, entirely. One beautiful, legible font in the style of the overall design will be nicer and more cohesive, particularly if every link is going to have a name.
posted by looli at 11:26 AM on January 15, 2012
posted by looli at 11:26 AM on January 15, 2012
Some typefaces will be very illegible at a small size, as I learned when getting my half-arm done with Kant's CI. It's not really feasible to hope for long term legibility (very important!) and fancy, clear font work in a small place unless you have much larger arms than I do. Stick to one, clear font if you can, and talk to your artist to balance what would work best with your typeface ideal.
posted by zinful at 3:15 PM on January 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by zinful at 3:15 PM on January 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
England? As the preferred typeface of British establishments (the Railways, the Church, the BBC and Penguin Books), Gill Sans is part of the British visual heritage just like the Union Jack and the safety pin.
Only problem — it's very 20th century, dunno if it would fit with the rest of your 19th century motif.
posted by Tom-B at 9:07 AM on January 16, 2012
Only problem — it's very 20th century, dunno if it would fit with the rest of your 19th century motif.
posted by Tom-B at 9:07 AM on January 16, 2012
Also, Glasgow + drugs = Trainspotting, but its typography is just boring Helvetica and doesn't really work outside the context. Maybe keep the British theme and use a collage à la Sex Pistols?
posted by Tom-B at 9:16 AM on January 16, 2012
posted by Tom-B at 9:16 AM on January 16, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
As a lover of type, I say yes. But I'd assume that unless you're a student focusing on this type of thing or you were just born with an innate ability to SEE the personality of type, it might be hard to get (as evidenced by your question).
If I were you, I'd start perusing some of the millions of font sites out there. Lost Type Coop is great, as are all the free sites if you're just looking to take a gander and get a feel for different styles.
Perhaps it's just the personal feelings people can tend to associate with fonts that makes them seem that they'd fit a certain personality so it's possible that this is all relative to the person viewing them.
And for the record, this is not a bizarre question at all! The tattoos I have with words in them all endured months of agony over the font choice before they were inked -- in the end I went with my own handwriting for one and the handwriting of my German great-grandfather for the other. They're both personal, the type is perfect, and I love them immensely.
posted by youandiandaflame at 7:57 AM on January 15, 2012