
The ultimate graphic designer smack-down. Admittedly not as much sting as a well timed mother joke, but it can set an SVA, Parsons or Pratt grad back on their heels a bit.
Take the quiz and impress your friends with your new found skills. Walk down the street confidently pointing to store windows and passing delivery trucks, sucking your teeth and muttering – urgh, dreaded Arial! Or find yourself saying things like – Helvetica would make a nice girls name wouldn’t it…
If you’ve seen Helvetica the movie this should be pretty easy. Take the quiz and let me know how you did. I scored 18 out of 20, and I’m not a good test person.
Ironic Sans has taken 20 Helvetica logos and redrew them using Arial.
“It seems to be the consensus that Arial is a substandard alternative to Helvetica. What if the logos we’re used to seeing in Helvetica were redone in Arial? Would you even notice if the next time you saw the American Airlines logo it was redone in Arial?
If you know what to look for it probably jumped right out at you. If not, you may see that they’re different but still not know which is which.
Take the quiz here!
Original post: Ironic Sans: Quiz: So you think you can tell Arial from Helvetica?.
December 15th, 2010 | Robert Merola | Typography | COMMENT »

A New York Times reporter sits down with typography gurus, Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones to discuss some of the challenges facing graphic and web designers. Inconsistent rendering of typefaces due to different operating systems, web browsers and different user settings. View the Times article.
Three tips I have: 1– Reset your browser zoom setting, this at least renders the same sized type that the designer intended. 2– Upgrade to Firefox or Safari, any browser but Explorer. 3– Check to see that your monitor is set to it’s highest resolution setting. I’m always amazed to see how many people never bother to check this setting.
Design — Typeface Designers Wrestle With the World of Pixels — NYTimes.com.
January 11th, 2010 | Robert Merola | Typography, Web Design | COMMENT »
Logo and identity for Alison Rose New York
New York interior designer Alison Rose asked Robert Merola to create a new logo design and corporate identity for her design business. In addition to business papers a bridal package was created. A simple black square defines the logotype and a customized Helvetica Neue in various weights completes the understated identity. Visit the website.
August 20th, 2007 | Robert Merola | Logo Design, Typography | COMMENT »

The basic principles of typography have not changed much in four-hundred years says David Dabner in new short.
In this beautiful 5 minute film by Omair Barlatulla, David Dabner demonstrates how an old tool can still teach us a lot about typography and design in a computer dominated craft.
In this interview, Dabner, a typographer who teaches type and design at the London College of Printing, uses the time consuming art of Letterpress, to slow down the design process, giving students more time to think about typography.
Dabner offers some valuable advise to young designers many who have never experienced the tactile pleasure of hand draw or hand set type.
A must see for anyone who remembers the pleasure of an industry where beautiful typography required an investment of time, muscle, planning and thought.
View Typography School
October 27th, 2006 | Robert Merola | Typography, Videos | COMMENT »