Type design goes unappreciated by most, but for designers, being all all-star in type design is a bit like being a big-wave surfer or a base jumper: It commands respect from your in-the-know peers, because the discipline is insanely difficult. Every font is a minefield of decisions, against myriad concerns like legibility, expressiveness, historical references (which are crazy, considering that many typefaces are hundreds of years old). But at the same time, a good type design can scream talent even to the layman. Here's a peak at a few nice ones, courtesy of the Type Director's Club 2009 awards, one of the most prestigious in the world.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FfT4KdY99h4OYA3OV2OpxmoaJp1KfyFoHwHQoMaJVqwsnr6nPNWPaA-IXDMoG9KjhCxJeFYynrERciZ7jkAMlcl4b9_hiBAJLX78FJyQvWt00xd6PhsM2Z8nZ-lZ7i5wAp9UPpVk3Ss/s320/3295565458_f8e6e1476d.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz6CzOS7bPWKhd25-bXd59-du2um2C_JJQbOXxhyphenhyphenRLWDAcz0OQIy-Y5p0Xp_Zeo5Ist5eLvCt2vv79BpPwI038wz4_9zf5ihTmG5SGYZa1LS3z-mmHt7JkKBPIrqDaOCd0S1vhCZXPZo/s320/3294741121_f4da7303ae.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FfT4KdY99h4OYA3OV2OpxmoaJp1KfyFoHwHQoMaJVqwsnr6nPNWPaA-IXDMoG9KjhCxJeFYynrERciZ7jkAMlcl4b9_hiBAJLX78FJyQvWt00xd6PhsM2Z8nZ-lZ7i5wAp9UPpVk3Ss/s320/3295565458_f8e6e1476d.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNeWDPtAwpylJEWCt3W-gWfWo_2hPlx-_yXbvC6JaaUNZW4v8MnDZizXiX8rd8gsEVG20Y3wIvJpllPssBPidqXzKFyGRWzgXUJfbOAbzs_SrFi7fl9CAqsBvsD8hYD-Cv7aDt-JUd6g/s320/3295565194_8530b85f37.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVz6CzOS7bPWKhd25-bXd59-du2um2C_JJQbOXxhyphenhyphenRLWDAcz0OQIy-Y5p0Xp_Zeo5Ist5eLvCt2vv79BpPwI038wz4_9zf5ihTmG5SGYZa1LS3z-mmHt7JkKBPIrqDaOCd0S1vhCZXPZo/s320/3294741121_f4da7303ae.jpg)