(Image by Pindec)
It would seem that the days of professional typography on the web are still a long way off. As I type this, I have a cart loaded with $300 worth of typographic loveliness, yet just as I was about to click 'buy' I've had to stop.
My intention is to use said typeface as part of a gallery rebranding exercise, the font will be a key component in this new identity, however digital use is restricted.
A read of the terms & conditions reveals the vendor does not allow online font use — specifically recent embedding technologies such as @font-face. For those unaware, @font-face is CSS3 technology to allow any text on a website to be rendered in a custom font. This font resides on the server and is loaded as the page is rendered. This (finally) the need to use images to render custom type and allows for search engine friendly, accessible websites which are on brand and inline with an identity.
This is ridiculous. In this digital day and age restrictions like this are hindering any digital progress. Online is often seen as the primary form of a brand's communication — so why am I still restricted to using Arial, Helvetica, Times & Trebuchet?
So as my finger moves away from the mouse and my cart is emptied I wonder what other options I have? Do I re-consider and purchase whilst accepting a digital prescence rendered in Arial or go looking elsewhere for an alternative knowing I'm likely to be disappointed? There are plenty of fonts with more open licenses, but generally the quality and range is far inferior.
Clearly the reason foundries are making such a decision is because anyone can browse a site's source code and work out where the font resides on the server and download it. Fair enough — but I do feel this is a regressive attitude. We can just as easily download copyrighted images, music and movies using similar procedures but we have an internet rich in media.
Ultimately this results in my indecision to buy the font. Should I choose not to the type foundry and designer lose my money and any exposure this brand would have brought them.
What do you think?
Modern Art Oxford have chosen TAK! to be their print & digital marketing agency for the next year. This coincides with a gallery re-opening and new website — which we are currently working on.
We're excited to be working with Modern Art Oxford across all aspects of their marketing; we will work with them to develop a new identity reflecting the gallery's new vision, print and digital marketing and a new social media strategy.
It's a great opportunity for TAK! to showcase out abilities across the board with a unique client who has a rich heritage.
Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK's leading galleries for the presentation of modern and contemporary art. Past exhibitions have featured Stella Vine, Tracy Emin, Jake and Dinos Chapman (check their current video - woah) and Yoko Ono amongst others.
The gallery is closed during March and re-opens early April. Follow their activities via Twitter @weloveoxford
Way, way back in August we presented a pitch to the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) for a new company website and brand strategy. Just before Christmas we were asked to further develop the idea and in January we presented our vision.
We're extremely pleased to announce we won the work and will be working with them on a new website, graphical identity and print marketing.
This is great news as this full service offering is something we have pushed for many years. Our recent acquisitions suggest our combined abilities across print and digital are now being recognised.
Some new work announcements. Before Christmas we pitched for the redesign of the Midlands Architecture and the Designed Environment's (MADE) website. We recently found out we won and have started working on delivering the project.
MADE champion creativity and best practice within the West Midlands region in the fields of Architecture and the Environment placing themselves strategically between architects, clients and the public.
Our proposal was two-fold. The first part stuck to the brief and outlined our ideas for the new site. The second part outlined a future digital vision for the company with the focus on a unique idea for their industry. MADE bought into this thinking and are currently taking this strategy to the Arts Council for funding. The funding will be used to trial the idea and should it work then we will be heavily involved in the development of the future project.
Exciting stuff. Expect things soon.
If you want this kind of approach to your project, product or company, contact us.
Last year we won a pitch to redesign the Musuems, Libraries and Archives Council's (MLA) website.
The MLA promotes best practice in museums, libraries and archives, to inspire innovative, integrated and sustainable services for all. MLA are a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) launched in April 2000.
The MLA have been involved in many national arts projects and we are both honoured and excited to be redesigning their website.
This time we will only supplying design and pass the development work to the super fantastic Codehouse.
Just before Christmas when everyone was snowed in, we headed down to the New Forest to Artsway — a small gallery with a strong reputation. After an in-depth conversation and credentials presentation we headed back to Birmingham with some new work in our pockets.
We're currently defining the new Artsway website and digital brand identity. Artsway are well known for recognising the best new talent and showcasing new artists before the move on to bigger world domination.
We're very excited to work with Artsway to offer them a new strong online presence. Website due Spring 2010.