The secret language of letter design (with English subtitles) | Martina Flor

Look at the letters around you: on street signs, stores, restaurant menus, the covers of books. Whether you realize it or not, the letters are speaking to you, telling you something beyond the literal text — that whatever they represent is modern or finely crafted or fantastical or zany. Learn to decode this secret language with lettering designer Martina Flor as she explains how altering the shapes, colors and textures of letters changes how we perceive them. (In Spanish with English subtitles.)

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49 Comments on The secret language of letter design (with English subtitles) | Martina Flor

  1. The amount of female TED speakers who don’t address vague social issues really increases recently on this channel.
    Thanks (and Like) for that.

    • Jimi me parece que te contradices al decir “ya se hacer graffitis gracias” (Ya sé hacer graffiti. Gracias*) si en realidad el tema de la tipografía no te parece interesante. Uno de los propósitos clave del graffiti es expresar emociones más allá de lo que digan las palabras y las letras taggeadas por medio del uso creativo de la tipografía y, por lo tanto, si ese es uno de tus intereses, debería ser una de las charlas TED que más te llamen la atención.

      Leyendo entre líneas se puede ver que simplemente comentas por comentar y no porque de verdad te parezca “poco interesante”.

  2. I find it very interesting how communication can go so much beyond simply what the words mean. The way things are enunciated and transmitted plays such a great role, and this talk shows that very well. Thank you for this!

  3. She liked the “Boulangerie” sign, because it told her that it was a *french* bakery, and french bakeries are almost always good, whereas Germany doesn’t exactly have the finest chefs in the world.
    Even though she spoke neither German nor French, she had obviously seen such a sign before and associated it with the delicious French cuisine.

    Not because of some stupid letter design. I get that it can hint some things, but I don’t believe it to be this expressive.

    Edit: lil spelling error fixed

    • Germany is known as the land of bread due to their many varieties of bread. Don’t say stuff like this unless you know what you’re talking about.

    • Joakim D
      But why does it taste so bad?
      I’ve been to Germany twice, and the only thing that wasn’t awesome was the food.

      I have never heard of the bread thing though, so I never paid much attention on it, maybe I missed something special and unique? 🙂

      I always thought the national foods of Germany were things like Weißwurst, Pfannkuchen, etc. and all of my friends who’ve been to Germany as well have reported similar experiences with restaurants and bakeries. Have you been to Germany? 🙂

    • Julia Prohaska She said she was in Paris, where every bakery sign is « Boulangerie », and the only difference is the font. (I am french btw)

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