The Budget of Paradox

Sophia,

I wish I knew what inspires you. I hope something inspires you. Math, music, art, swimming, or whatever. Something more than TikTok and rolling your eyes at your mother.

What about graphic design? When I was younger, I had a lot of interest in it. I never took a class, and, truth be told, I was probably never good at it. But I was definitely inspired. Technology has certainly changed graphic design since I was a kid. But I really believe some people are born with a certain ‘sense’ for it.

Have you ever opened up Microsoft Word, or some other application that allows typing, and played with the font? I’m talking about the typeface, the way the letters look and feel. The fonts all have names; the more common fonts are Times New Roman, Helvetica, Arial. I always liked Garamond. There are actually hundreds of fonts, maybe thousands.

But it’s more than selecting the right font. For me, graphic design was about creating a whole new message, usually using fonts and typography, but always with a focus on a visual experience for the user.

some Emigre fonts

When I was in college, in the early 1990s, there was a magazine called Emigre. My friend Dennis tuned me on to it when we both lived in Prescott, Arizona. I remember being thrilled by the content. I thought I was clever, but wow, they focused on young, hip graphic designers who were unafraid of taking risks and making bold statements. They blew me away. It really opened my eyes.

“Culprits” (each magazine edition had its own name; Culprits was the fall 1992 printing. Read it here) came with two new typefonts: Remedy and Keedy Sans. Most printings came with at least a few new fonts free for download. We had internet back then, but it was very slow and primitive. You couldn’t just Google whatever you wanted. Being able to download something like a new typeface was amazing. Even the advertisements were amazing. The Dictatorship of Helvetica!

the Culprits edition of Emigre

I have a cousin who was really good at graphic design. Her name is Mazana. I’m sorry you probably won’t ever meet her. A very cool woman. She grew up next to Tommy Hilfiger. Not a clothing store, but Thomas J. Hilfiger himself, the founder of the store. They were neighbors; no kidding. Believe it or not, Mazana has a son named Zander, and he was born about a week before you were born. You’re both named after Johann Zander, our distant relative who first came to America from Germany in the 1800s.

Zander would be your second cousin. A first cousin is when you have the same grandmother. A second cousin is when you have the same great-grandmother, and so on. I am embarrassed to admit I was an adult before I learned this. You and Zander are both great-grandchildren of Evelyn Bruggeman, who was my mother’s mother. Just a little family trivia.

Anyway, if you ever become a graphic designer, maybe someday seek out your cousin Mazana Bruggeman. Technically, you’re first cousins, once removed.