It's not just the lucky number that gives cause for celebration: the 44th edition of the TDC Annual also presents a wealth of typographic delicacies from around the world. A treat for typography experts and fans of good design.
Text: Herbert Lechner
It is well known that in the 1940s, New York agency typographers would meet after work to exchange ideas and present their work to each other. Gradually, this elite circle opened up, with Beatrice Warde becoming the first female typographer to be accepted in 1960, and since 1980, outstanding work has been documented in the TDC Annual. The selection—which is not always uncontroversial—has since been regarded as the most important indicator of international typographic quality. Whether the yearbook really does bring together "The World's Best Typography," as the title promises, remains to be seen, but in any case, it offers a unique mix of classic and experimental, often surprising and even irritating font solutions that reflect the diverse spectrum of innovative contemporary typography. Previous accusations that the jurors favor American or Western submissions too much or even make "racist" choices are likely to be invalidated with this edition.
The high proportion of awards for female typographers is also striking, which is certainly in line with current developments. Not only for this reason, it is an exciting journey of discovery into new typefaces and new fonts.
Incidentally, the TDC Annual has been published by Hermann Schmidt Verlag in Mainz for several years, which fortunately guarantees a correspondingly high-quality production. In this edition, for example, readers can enjoy a thread-bound hardcover with embossing.
The World’s Best Typography. The 44th Annual of the Type Directors Club 2023
Publisher: Hermann Schmidt
352 fully illustrated pages
ISBN 978-3-87439-967-8
€69
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