Applying Bringhurst To The Web

Richard Rutter applies the Elements to the Web, one at a time

Bringhurst’s The Elements of Typographic Style (reviewed here) is a lyrical, admired reference, deservedly on many the bookshelf of typographers master as well as tyro. As anyone who designs for web versus print knows, however, web design is a bit of a minefield. Print design gives a guide, but only so far into this extremely dynamic world.

Richard Rutter is setting out the flags to follow. His recently-debuted site, The Elements Of Typographic Style Applied to the Web, seeks to extend the work of Bringhurst by taking each element in its turn and examining it as applicable to typography for the web.

The first section, for example, 2.1.1 Define the word space to suit the size and natural letterfit of the font, approaches word space via CSS. This is not just a recapitulation of Bringhurst made available on the Web, but a view of web typography through Bringhurst’s thoughtful lens, and as such is extremely timely.

Designed after the style of the book, the website itself speaks to a high standard of design and evokes unity with the publication which inspired it. It is definitely a work in progress, with new sections mounted as they are finished, but an RSS feed is available for those who wish to follow Rutter’s work.

(via Typographica)