Rebe

npr:

Nearly every country has a national flag, a national anthem, a national bird. Not many countries have a national typeface.

Sweden recently commissioned a team of designers to come up with a font to represent the country on its websites, press releases, tourism brochures and more.

The offices of Soderhavet look exactly the way you would expect a Scandinavian design firm to look: clean, sleek and warm, with tasteful bursts of color sprinkled among the minimalistic furniture. And the typeface that these designers created looks pretty much the way you would expect a Scandinavian typeface to look, too.

“The Scandinavian tradition is pretty humble, easygoing and clean,” says Stefan Hattenbach, one of the designers of the new Sweden Sans. “Less is more, you could say.”

He started by collecting images of old Swedish street signs and company logos. He pulled images of Swedish wallpaper, cars and furniture, and looked for what he calls the red thread running through it all.

“There’s an expression in Sweden, too,” Hattenbach says. “We say lagom, which is not too much and not too little. You’re happy with something in between. And that’s a special word which I guess only Swedes would understand.”

Not Too Much, Not Too Little: Sweden, In A Font

Image credits: Courtesy of Soderhavet

laughingsquid:

Detroit History Tours, A New Tour Group Highlighting the History of the Motor City

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laughingsquid:

Statue of Edgar Allan Poe With a Giant Raven Will Be Unveiled in Boston in October 2014

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statedept:

On April 4, 1949, #SecState Dean Acheson signed the most successful military-political treaty in the world. This treaty has been protecting citizens and keeping peace around the world ever since. Happy Birthday, #NATO! #throwbackthursday #NATOat65

vintageblackglamour:

Marvin Gaye was born 75 years ago today in Washington, D.C. I can hardly believe that he was stolen from us 30 years ago. He is shown here, looking as smooth as ever in 1966. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.

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natgeofound:

Geometric patterns enliven a wall of an auditorium in Caracas, Venezuela, March 1963.Photograph by Thomas J. Abercrombie, National Geographic

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natgeofound:

Geometric patterns enliven a wall of an auditorium in Caracas, Venezuela, March 1963.Photograph by Thomas J. Abercrombie, National Geographic

whitehouse:

Who makes the minimum wage?

• More than half → Women
• More than half → Work full time
• Average age → 35

Share this if you agree it’s time to #RaiseTheWage

laughingsquid:

Street Art in France of Bruce Lee Destroying a Railing with His Powerful Kick

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statedept:

Happy World Water Day! Learn about the U.S. TechH2O water technology event exhibit on DipNote.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Tischenko Irina

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