Spiekermann reflects on how he worked before computers compared to how to design for the digital world: "we are designing for people in difficult situations and easy situations. If you design for a medicine bottles and their life may depend on reading that text; possibly when life depends on it.
He finds it interesting how some of the old techniques are being rediscovered. These techniques have been hidden by the technical aspects of older technology and now they can focus on the design.
Web designers now work like print designers. They don't have to keep looking at the technology anymore. They look at the experiences, the viewer, the content.
Typographers work with the copy and start with size and leading and work themselves up.
Graphic designers work with an image in mind and make it.
He likes to use new stuff, new typefaces and every couple months he finds one he likes.
If you are good, then you can take something out of context and make it new. Too many times I find that people use his typefaces wrong.
Everyone should try designing a typeface because I can ignore if or I can use it. They can learn to love it or they can learn to hate it.
I find lots of this very interesting. To hear from a designer that no a days we can design on any platform and use our foundational knowledge gives me confidence that I can work on platforms that I do not yet know of.
