Timonium Inspires New Typeface

Type designer Tal Leming agonizes when it comes to naming a new typeface.

"There are a lot of factors that go into naming a font," the Towson resident said. "The typeface needs a name that seems right. For example, you wouldn't name something that has a very serious look with a silly name. The name has to be unique. There are a lot of typefaces out there and it's not wise to use the same name as another typeface."

Leming has worked as a type designer, lettering artist and type technology specialist since graduating from Louisiana State University in 1997. He has worked for a wide array of national and international clients, which include Adidas, Entertainment Weekly, GQ, Paramount Pictures, Reebok, Target, among others.

Read Leming's blog here.

But last week, I came across his greatest accomplishment yet—naming his latest typeface after our fair Timonium.

"I personally like to name my typefaces after things that I have a connection with," Leming said of coming up with the name. "When it came time to name this particular typeface I thought about what it looks like: it's modern, clean, almost scientific.

"Ever since I first saw the word "Timonium" on a sign on I-83 I have liked it," he continued. "If you don't know that it is a place, the word sounds like a futuristic chemical element. Aluminum, Magnesium, Titanium... Timonium. I looked at the word in all of the styles in the typeface and it looked good. So, I decided to use "Timonium" as the name.

Basic licensing for the design starts at $225, on www.vllg.com.

What do you think of the Timonium inspired font? Tell us in the comments section below.

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