Our Favorite Typefaces of 2011 at Typographica

One of the best annual wrap-ups returns after a hiatus in 2009-10, Our Favorite Typefaces, from Typographica. Welcome back!

The idea is simple: I invite a group of writers, educators, type makers and type users to look back at 2011 and pick the release that excited them most.

This is not a juried contest. The result isn’t necessarily the “best fonts of the year”, or even those most used or ballyhooed. But these 50 selections do capture a pretty accurate snapshot of where type design is now, and where it’s headed.

And the results are spot on. 50 reviews is a lot to digest, and I’m still picking my way through them, but there is a lot to love here. Not only is this a great wrap up of the year, but contributes to a valuable collection of commentary on the state of type.

Some favorite reviews so far are Indra Kupferschmid on Cyrus Highsmith’s Salvo, Aegir Hallmundur on Travis Kochel’s amazing Chartwell, Tim Brown on José Scaglione and Veronika Burian’s Abril, and Caren Litherland on Ludwig Übele’s FF Tundra. It’s great to have a chance to give some typefaces a second look, or discover some that you missed over the course of the year.

I’m also honored to contribute a review to the mix. I chose Nicole Dotin’s beautiful new text face, Elena. It reads like a dream.