In lettering, it just has to work in that one instance. In type design, you have a larger system that you can’t neatly predict. The complexity is so much greater. For me, type requires a more mathematical approach, which can sometimes make my brain switch off. When we did OpenType coding back at Cooper, I really had a hell of a time with it. I just couldn’t get that part of my brain to function. Maybe it was just so dormant that I couldn’t wake it up.

It’s a very different way of thinking. That’s the thing about type design; it stands between other disciplines, programming, linguistics, draftsmanship, commerce, Intellectual property. It’s what makes it so interesting, but it can also be daunting if you lean towards one discipline more than others.

Type design is not just sitting there tweaking beziers all day. As much as you sometimes wish it was.

Mark McCormick.