Welcome to today’s podcast! Today we explore a groundbreaking design book that many haven’t heard of: Walter Käch’s "Lettering," first published in 1949. Käch was a calligrapher at the Zürich School of Arts and Crafts, and his manual revolutionized the way typefaces are designed.

Fabian Harb, cofounder of Dinamo, discovered this treasure during his studies, noting, “Käch really went about type design in a quite broad way.” His work laid the groundwork for type families and inspired iconic typefaces like Univers and Helvetica—two designs that have shaped our visual landscape.

Despite its limited initial release, "Lettering" influenced countless designers, but its scarcity has left many seeking it with fevered bids on eBay. Now, a team has reprinted this seminal text, making it available for €48, reconnecting today’s designers with Käch’s teachings.

Harb emphasizes the importance of accessing this manual, stating, “[The reprint] is very similar to the original... but the richness of materiality in the original is almost impossible to recreate.”

That’s all for today! Check out the reprint and dive into the world of type design inspired by Walter Käch.
Link to Article