—
Originally designed for the type on Modeselektor’s record “Happy Birthday”, Quoten™ has strong geometric
feature… read more
Originally designed for the type on Modeselektor’s record “Happy Birthday”, Quoten™ has strong geometric features making it compact and mighty. All of the characters possess original peculiarities, a kind of finesse that gives vibrancy to every application despite its strict geometrical order lending the typeface a fresh look. All the signs are also tightly aligned with equal spacing, which rather contradicts the heavy weight of the alphabet. All together this font is what so called experts like Aleith call “H.L.A.D.S.” short for header, logo, animation, double spacing meaning it’s an all around font meaning it can be used in practically any application.
—
About the Designer Martin Aleith
Martin Aleith is a contemporary graphic designer whose fonts, design work and video installations are closely associated… read more
Martin Aleith is a contemporary graphic designer whose fonts, design work and video installations are closely associated with music. Since 1998, he is a founding member of the Berlin-based collective Pfadfinderei, known for their bombastic moving image shows for the likes of Modeselektor, Pharrell and Radiohead, since 1998. The company is known structured in three main divisions: Corporate Design, Production, and Installation.
www.pfadfinderei.com
More fonts by Martin Aleith
www.pfadfinderei.com
More fonts by Martin Aleith
—
Interview with Martin Aleith
Who is Pfadfinderei?
Design collective Pfadfinderei (in English, “pathfinders” or “home of the scouts”) … read more
Design collective Pfadfinderei (in English, “pathfinders” or “home of the scouts”) … read more
Who is Pfadfinderei?
Design collective Pfadfinderei (in English, “pathfinders” or “home of the scouts”) formed in 1998 and creates visual marketing tools as well handles the realization of events. We offer a full range of design services answering to functional design demands and provide advanced multimedia art. Pfadfinderei is now structured into three main divisions: Corporate Design, Production and Installation.
What is your direction in graphic design? How would you characterize your style?
I think I’m a natural drawer from birth. And since I spend a lot of time drawing, I think I just have a good sense and know how things should. It’s probably this ability that gives my graphic design the expression that it has.
Where’s your office?
Berlin, on the Spree River
Can you give us a short description about your font?
On the one hand the Quoten™ has very strict geometric features. This makes the font compact and lends the typeface a lot of mightiness. On the other hand all characters possess original peculiarities, a kind of finesse that gives every application vibrancy despite its order. Additionally all letters are tightly aligned with equal spacing, which rather contradicts the heavy weight of the alphabet. Altogether these are three significant characteristics that separate the Quoten™ from similar fonts.
Why did you design this font?
While designing the current Modeselektor record “Happy birthday” (Bpitch Control 2007), there was of course a necessity for a new artist type. The Cover shows a photomontage that depicts Modeselektor as modern Mary and baby Jesus. This image attracts any focus and I had to find a font of equal strength. This is what happened, I swear.
What is the ideal usage of your font?
This font is very proactive. It brings the whole works. Among experts it`s called H.L.A.D.S. (Header, Logo, Animation, Double Spacing).
Do you design your fonts by hand, or directly on the computer?
I usually start sketching by hand, just to remember what I was going to do, and to build up a repertoire of shapes that I might want to use. Everything else happens going back and forth between computer and print-outs, where I mostly do my corrections.
Does developing a typeface start with the character (the individual letter) or are there intermediate stages in which a kind of rhythm develops?
Sometimes the raw overall scheme is the first thing, and then the individual letter shapes slowly evolve out of context. Or there´s an idea for one character, and then I just have to find out, if it would work in a complete font.
Can you explain what makes you choose a typeface? Or which typefaces catch your eye as something special?
Exotics and humble workers, if those can be found as characters, they are my boys.
What fonts still have to be drawn?
Sometimes making a new font seems like asking for a glass of water while swimming in a lake. But I am not a nihilist and drinking Evian in a dirtpool always seems like the better choice.
Your future plans?
I’m only 29!
Design collective Pfadfinderei (in English, “pathfinders” or “home of the scouts”) formed in 1998 and creates visual marketing tools as well handles the realization of events. We offer a full range of design services answering to functional design demands and provide advanced multimedia art. Pfadfinderei is now structured into three main divisions: Corporate Design, Production and Installation.
What is your direction in graphic design? How would you characterize your style?
I think I’m a natural drawer from birth. And since I spend a lot of time drawing, I think I just have a good sense and know how things should. It’s probably this ability that gives my graphic design the expression that it has.
Where’s your office?
Berlin, on the Spree River
Can you give us a short description about your font?
On the one hand the Quoten™ has very strict geometric features. This makes the font compact and lends the typeface a lot of mightiness. On the other hand all characters possess original peculiarities, a kind of finesse that gives every application vibrancy despite its order. Additionally all letters are tightly aligned with equal spacing, which rather contradicts the heavy weight of the alphabet. Altogether these are three significant characteristics that separate the Quoten™ from similar fonts.
Why did you design this font?
While designing the current Modeselektor record “Happy birthday” (Bpitch Control 2007), there was of course a necessity for a new artist type. The Cover shows a photomontage that depicts Modeselektor as modern Mary and baby Jesus. This image attracts any focus and I had to find a font of equal strength. This is what happened, I swear.
What is the ideal usage of your font?
This font is very proactive. It brings the whole works. Among experts it`s called H.L.A.D.S. (Header, Logo, Animation, Double Spacing).
Do you design your fonts by hand, or directly on the computer?
I usually start sketching by hand, just to remember what I was going to do, and to build up a repertoire of shapes that I might want to use. Everything else happens going back and forth between computer and print-outs, where I mostly do my corrections.
Does developing a typeface start with the character (the individual letter) or are there intermediate stages in which a kind of rhythm develops?
Sometimes the raw overall scheme is the first thing, and then the individual letter shapes slowly evolve out of context. Or there´s an idea for one character, and then I just have to find out, if it would work in a complete font.
Can you explain what makes you choose a typeface? Or which typefaces catch your eye as something special?
Exotics and humble workers, if those can be found as characters, they are my boys.
What fonts still have to be drawn?
Sometimes making a new font seems like asking for a glass of water while swimming in a lake. But I am not a nihilist and drinking Evian in a dirtpool always seems like the better choice.
Your future plans?
I’m only 29!