Oded Ezer

Typembria, watch video, 2009

He is already world known; the single contemporary israeli typographer (or typographic artists) to become a design pop star. Oded Ezer’s experiments are innovative and inspiring, twisting the boundaries and exploring the possibilities of meshing the field of Hebrew type (as well as Latin) with biology, technology, materiality and endless more alternatives.

Tybrid - Oded Ezer's typo hybrids, 2007

Maya Light font, corresponds to Futura

Gestalten recently published his monograph - I highly recommend it! Get it here.

Frankrhulia font (sketches), inspired by Frank Ruehl, 2005

It is impossible to summarize such a great man and body of work. To see more, you can follow him on his website, foundry, twitter, flickr and blog.

Typosperma, Ezer as the typographic scientist, 2006

David Tartakover

35 Years of Occupation Poster, 2002

David Tartakover studied at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design where he has been teaching as well. Throughout his career he has specialized in various aspects of visual communications, with particular emphasis on culture and politics. Tartakover is one of the most important graphic designers in Israel, and although not a typographer, it is important to mention his work in this blog.

State of Israel's 30th Anniversary Poster, 1978

To show his support and contribute to a protest movement (that called prime minister Menahem Begin to begin a peace process, in 1978), Tartakover voluntarily designed a poster with the title "Peace Now". The title became the movement's name and was made into the first political sticker in Israel, which is effective till this day.

Peace Now Logo, 1978

The logo originated in the poster Tartakover designed for the 30th anniversary of the state of Israel, in which the word "Peace" is set in the biblical Koren font (designed by Eliahu Koren in the 1950's as a revival of Spanish-Italian Hebrew type from 1800's) with blue skies in the background. According to Tartakover, the innovation in the Peace Now logo was the combination of the two typefaces - "peace" set in the traditional Koren and "now" set in the headline-style Haim, explicitly secular Israeli. the contrasting combination gave the logo its presence and memorability.

Oldies Collections

Here are some great Flickr collections of Israeli vintage memorabilia with Hebrew type:

collection of the letter Aleph (first in the Hebrew alphabet), 1900-1950's
http://www.flickr.com/photos/isotype75/

Velveta, Shemen's All Purpose Cream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39094057@N06/

Sonol's Road Map
http://www.flickr.com/photos/safta/

Immigration, Absorption, Settlement Stamp
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/

Hebrew in Motion

there's a lot of motion-typography out there (a least on youtube) and it's pretty refreshing to see some in Hebrew. i found a lot of student work from two Israeli design schools (Shenkar and Bezalel). i personally like these three:

Fortis/At Lo Tova Elay (you're no good to me)

credit: yyonacho

I love Rami Fortis (awesome israeli musician for the past 30 years). I thinks this does a good job with the "vibe" of the song. the animation has a good beat, usage of a variety of fonts, although a few are quite "weird" (ugly), i see how mixing the fonts together portrays some "Punkiness" which Fortis has so much of.

The Apples/Ze Ra'ayon Tov (thats a good idea)

credit: noodoov1

Again, The Apples - awesome Israeli band. I like the use of an older-looking font, to mach the sample of an old record in the song. I believe the main font is Palestina, Oded Ezer's typeface for Hagilda.


Hachamishia Hakamerit/Bo (come on)

credit: eladshrem

One of my favorite skits from the Israeli comedy tv show Hachamishia Hakamerit, in which different army officers regurgitate different familier speeches calling on men to join the army. Nice emphasis on different font and color for each voice, which leads to the chaos of type and sound (and message).

Hagilda - Independant Type Design Cooperative

The Smoker Serif

Hagilda (The Guild) is an Israeli type foundry (or as they like to define themselves- type design cooperative) of prominent designers Michal Sahar and Danny Meirav, both Bezalel graduates from the late 90’s and each runs his/her own independant design studio.

Palestina by Oded Ezer

Blender Condensed

Almost all of their font families are revivals of known Hebrew typefaces (such as Haim, Aharoni, Meriam) which have become default to us israeli Microsoft Word users (the equivalent to times new roman, if i may say so myself). Hagilda brings the joy back to older Hebrew typography and makes me, at least, pay more attention to the minutiae in such ancestors. Another aspect they express is vernacular or signage inspired typography, such as the poppy and fun Glass of Milk and Kartiv (Popsicle). Looking through the catalog really gives you a sense of the design culture, and therefore popular culture, that developed in the short history of Israel.

Kartiv

A Glass of Milk