These days, information is a commodity being sold. And designers-including the newly defined subset of information designers and information architects-have a responsible role to play. We are interpreters, not merely translators, between sender and receiver. What we say and how we say it makes a difference. If we want to speak to people, we need to know their language. In order to design for understanding, we need to understand design.

The attention someone gives to what he or she makes is reflected in the end result, whether it is obvious or not.

Designers like even grayness, which is the worst thing for a reader.

You are what you are seen to be.

The materials shape your idea.

I'm very much a word person, so that's why typography for me is the obvious extension. It just makes my words visible.

I'm obviously a typeomaniac, which is an incurable if not mortal disease. I can't explain it. I just love, I just like looking at type. I just get a total kick out of it: they are my friends. Other people look at bottles of wine or whatever, or, you know, girls' bottoms. I get kicks out of looking at type. It's a little worrying, I admit, but it's a very nerdish thing to do.