Timeline

A Collection of Typefaces

Sans-serif

• Favorit by Dinamo
• Whyte by Dinamo
• Söhne by Klim
• NB International by Stefan Gandl (Neubau)
• Klaus by Monkeytype
• Atlas Grotesk by Susana Carvalho, Kai Bernau, Christian Schwartz, et al.
• Maison Neue by Milieu Grotesque
• Patron by Milieu Grotesque
• Matter by Displaay

Serif

• Signifier by Klim
• Ashbury by Hoftype
• Reckless by Displaay

Film photography

© Peter McKinnon

Analog photographs never cease to astonish me. Encapsulating the uniqueness of a moment forever without endless lakes requires a lot of luck, speed, and – at the same time – patience. To be in the moment and notice its details to decide what to capture.

There is no preview or deletion. It feels much more like art: thoughts go into each piece, one has to think about exposure and composition without another try – like paint on a canvas. Something that digital photography cannot replace.

“We’re just to busy to remember to slow down.” Peter McKinnon

“They say when two people are angry at each other – you know why they shout? It’s a bit strange, because they’re right next to each other […]. One ancient Sufi saint, he said the reason why people shout when they’re angry, because although they’re next to each other physically, their hearts have become so far apart. And because they are so far apart, they feel they need to shout to try and make up that distance that has been created.

And have you noticed? It works the other way as well. When you have a very loving relationship and your heart is very close to someone, sometimes you can be with them in the room and you don’t even have to say a word – and just the movement of the face and they understand you and you understand them.” @blackhatmotivation

Still, I believe that when chasing success for the long term, well-designed products should be able to rely on A-grade fundamentals. Would you build a cathedral on quicksand? Casper Lourens

My e-mail client of choice is Tempo. Before sunsetting, there was even a mobile app that I still miss dearly.

Casper – one of their designers – shared some insights about the process. On his note about Tempo’s icon set “Quill”, he wrote this paragraph I highly agree with. If the base of a product is well-formed, it will benefit everyone working on it at any point.

Only A Lifetime by FINNEAS

How do you know
If you've done everything right?
Is it the love you have at hand
Or the cash you kiss at night?

How do you know
If it was worth it in the end?
Did every second really count
Or were there some you shouldn't spend
On anything but anyone you love?
Was this the life that you were dreaming of?
A movie night, a yellow light
You're …

Humanrace color palette

Sonos color palette

Strava color palette

House of 1000 mirrors

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors.

A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, “This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often.”

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, “That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again.”

All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

Japanese Folktale (Author unknown)

Happy(?) Pride Month

The time of the year again for large companies to tint their logo with rainbow colors. A painful reminder that diversity and inclusivity are usually just hollow words instead of an act of betterment for bespoke people.

Though I am deeply grateful for my supportive peers, it is equally saddening to see how people suffer from the narrow-mindedness of so many others. All the looks, the bullies, and …

Actions are the greatest proof of love

Despite the amount of times a person tells you they love you or they’ll be there for you – if these words don’t match their actions, their behavior is closer to manipulation than anything else.

As we tend to believe in the best in every person, especially those we feel something for, it might be hard to accept that some people take more than we can offer in the long term.

I like to see …

Profound questions

• Are you ever bored?
• What is the purpose of life?
• What does “peace” mean to you?
• How do you find solitude?
• How would you spend an evening with your friends?
• What’s something you didn’t say that you should have?
• Do you believe in love at first sight?
• What’s the biggest regret in your life?
• Do you think we are ever born again?
• Do you believe in any higher instance?
• Are you close with your parents?
• What does falling in love feel like?
• When was the last time you cried?
• Where have you felt the most comfortable recently?
• When do you usually cry, if at all?
• Would you wear the same outfit for one week in a row?
• If you walked into a room with everyone youve ever meet, who would you go looking for?
• How would you describe the most beautiful thing in the world?
• What’s the most admirable aspect of human nature and the worst?
• What does living in the moment mean to you?

Finding an answer to the question what love is, is not simple. This is perhaps the closest I’ve ever seen someone explain it.

So, for now, That is my description of Love. Your heart finds it. Your mind grows it. Your actions keep it. Blank

Love is passion, obsession, someone you can’t live without. I say, fall head over heels. Find someone you can love like crazy and who will love you the same way back. How do you find him? Well, you forget your head, and you listen to your heart. And I’m not hearing any heart. Cause the truth is, honey, there’s no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love, well, you haven’t lived a life at all. But you have to try, cause if you haven’t tried, you haven’t lived. Quote from Meet Joe Black

Brisbane Grotesk by Valentin Rudloff

BRISBANE GROTESK is a low-contrast, elegant but somehow brutal font. Some characteristics of the font come from Swiss Design and Brutalism. The word “Brisbane” comes from the two ancient words “brise” meaning a break, and “ban” - a bone, “break bone”. Brisbane was a name first mentioned in the 13th century, either referring to a doctor who healed bones or it was a nickname of someone who broke bones.

This ambiguous background is found in every fiber of the font. Exactly this contradiction between destroyer and healer can be found in every glyph. Uniform, transitional forms, alternate with breaks and inktraps.

Kudos to Valentin for the incredible work on this typeface. The overall brutalist yet very accessible character resonated most, especially since my field of taste in fonts is very narrow.

A lovely example of how rewards can be used in software

Responsible fashion brands

• Nomen Nescio
• OMEN
• Asket
• Armedangels
• Rotholz
• Organic Basics
• FRNKOW
• L’ESTRANGE
• SAMSØE
• oftt
• Salzwasser
• RÓHE
• LAUGÉ
• Daniel Simmons
• SANVT

Heaven Model Man

Apple Music Spotify

I discovered Model Man through this Mahogany Session and still fail to describe what makes his sounds so special to me, but I enjoy listening every time. The only thing I still hope for is a collaboration with Fred again..

“People are so surprised when you are kind to them, when you take time out of your life to help them out. Because the expectation is that everyone’s busy and no one has time to help anyone. But I guess that’s a product of the time we live in. We’re all so hyper-focused on ourselves that we forget we’re sharing the world with others.” Manu Moreale

If somebody behaves rudely, I assume they are a rude person. But when I behave rudely, I know it’s not who I really am. @newhappyco on Instagram

Linus at 6.19pm so important to put those things into perspective. just pausing for a second and thinking why someone may feel a certain way to understand them is often overlooked.

Sam at 6.21pm Exactly, also this happens in more close and personal settings. A lot of friends of mine complaining of other people’s (people I know) behaviours. I feel like this blame culture has to stop. People need a pinch of empathy.

Re: The Pursuit of Perfection

We are ever so keen to elevate our lives to an extent that most likely will never be reached. This might be motivating for some – others may end up devastated. The latter commonly exists as the result of adopting external expectations and ideas on a purposeful life.

As Anton rightly says, life is unpredictable. Consequently, the biggest task in one’s life is perhaps balancing spontaneity and a …

If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way – if not, you’ll find an excuse. Jen Sincero

The sky must be the most precious feature of nature

10 questions I ask myself every morning

1. What am I most grateful for this morning?
2. What would be my big win today?
3. Who can I reach out to and send some love?
4. What do I need to be kinder towards myself for today?
5. When kindness can I spread?
6. What deserves my energy today?
7. What do I need to remind myself of?
8. What can I do today simply because I enjoy it?
9. What can I let go of today?
10. How can I take one small step towards a goal that feels out of reach?

“You can’t step into the same stream twice because it’s always flowing. Everything is.” Rick Rubin · The Creative Act: A Way of Being

An Ode to Letters

In a time when everything is digital, going back to analog sometimes feels like a wonder.

The persistent connectivity with the rest of the world currently available stands against our nature. A nature of solitude, a lot of time spent outside, and much less interaction with others. Especially, when it comes to interchange only for the sake of entertainment or distraction.

People used to live without phones, without instant messaging, and still led a purposeful and rewarding life. It …

Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good.

It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit.

Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work.

Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile.

It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.

I sometimes really have the urge to sit with someone far out the city and away from all busyness. In a place that is only equipped with nothing more than essence for humane survival. Letting go of all must-haves and could-haves to focus on counting blessings and nurturing gratitude for what the universe has provided us with.

Most importantly just existing there, feeling the breeze wavering over …

Re: On Being a Slow Thinker

For years I struggled in school and even regular conversations. Forming a proper response takes time and I disregard sharing what comes to my mind instantly.

In most cases, it hasn’t been an issue to step back and give things some thought. Hitting the brakes on a crossroad until having a proper overview of the situation, however, does not work. Hence, it can become a hindrance in situations where quick reactions are necessary.

In any way, reading this article gave me a sense of comfort, and made me feel understood. It’s always great to know you’re not alone.

“How slowly or quickly you think is not an accurate measurement of your intelligence. Slow thinking is more deliberate and less emotional.” Derek Sivers / Carl Barenbrug

Friends

Once more, generally through the course of this year, but especially in the very small moments, I realized over and over again how incredibly important friends are.

Whenever I needed someone to talk to, there were people to reach out to and they welcomed every emotion, every tear or laugh. And this is something we need to tell each other way more often, and then act on it. Just listening to each …

Being alive is absolutely insane. There’s so much happening, so many thoughts to think and entities to love. It’s the easiest and at the same time hardest thing to do – unexplainable and yet we’re loving every day and all the time. If I’m being honest, love has ruined most of this year for me, while also making small bits of it unexpectedly amazing. Rejection means …

Eighteen

I'm an adult now. Feels weird to say, but I finally turned 18 today.

Thanks mom!

For quite some time, I’ve been looking forward to this day. Many people told me that it’s not as special, but adding +1 to my years lived means much more than just increasing the count.

I always enjoyed being independent and going my own ways – doing what I think is right. Other perspectives are important, but eventually deciding on my own is what makes me feel free. And …

Capsule wardrobe

On overconsumption, sustainable brands and my wardrobe: Reminding myself to embrace slow fashion

I used to love shopping at ARKET. Out of curiosity, I did some research on sustainable fashion brands and found out, that my beloved brand is one of the biggest fast fashion brands in the market. To be exact: It is a sub-brand of the giant H&M.

The problem: Hennes & Mauritz GesmbH is the second largest fast-fashion brand in the world – along with brands like ZARA, C&A, COS, Uniqlo, or …