Neil Summerour Essay

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Neil Summerour is a type designer, graphic designer, type designer, calligrapher, and teacher. An author of “over 40 typeface families” (I love Photography) which is over 420 fonts Summerour has evolved to be a leading designer in the world of typography. The process to become a designer in the world of typography was long, but ultimately it evolved to what it is today. The love of typography began when he took a job with a monument company in high school. His work involved working with reproducing designs and creating the old into the new. The work often involved taking rubbings and working with the letters and creating new designs. He was fascinated by this work and became aware of how fonts could be used which began the loved of typography. …show more content…

Following high school Mr. Summerour attended University of Georgia where he entered the Graphic Design program. He studied calligraphy. It was experiences by Ron Arnholm that shared his experience as a designer that laid the foundation for his love of calligraphy. However, Summerour also had an experience of listening to different lectures which helped formulate opinions about different concepts as well. He mentions that he loves watching concept and then a fire lights and the challenge and reward to develop a product. (I love typography). Neil mentions the design process which starts from concept and then evolves into sketching and not rushing into the computer. Going abruptly to computer sometimes stifles the process. Summerour best states that “there is no substitute for pen, pencil or brush on paper” (my fonts). The process of each new font builds upon the maturity of the previous one. This allows him to evolve in each design. Summerour doesn’t highlight any one project or design as an achievement. He can be considered somewhat critical of his work and doesn’t feel he hasn’t produced “the great piece” yet. Rather he is always diligent in wanting to try a new piece. Summerour is a believer that each new client brings a new set of challenges. The typeface titled Baka was a highly successful font as it had a Japanese style

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