Drawn characters, realistic images and abstract symbols are the ancient fundamentals from which highly developed scripts originate. An important milestone in the development of letters was Blacklettere, also known as the Gothic script. Its unique style, which was the consequence of the artistic movement and the needs of that time, was a reflection of the nation. People, who claimed the script for their own, suddenly abstained from it. Over time its use withered and the gothic script even became politically tarnished.
Through history, the character of the gothic script has faced negative critique. People perceived it as ”barbaric“ and they thought it was hard to read because of its dark image. The gothic cultural heritage states the contrary. There are many sources which testify that it was widely used. Yet, the unfavorable attitude towards the gothic script is still noticeable today. Due to its illegibility and political tarnish, its use is very limited; it can only be found in short phrases.
Many designers and researches have questioned the legibility of fonts. A number of theories have emerged, one of them from Zuzana Licko, who claims that ”readers read best what they read most“. [1] This is why it is possible, that the Gothic script, because of its absence and diversity, is illegible for the eyes of the 21st century. The latter is the main topic of this master's thesis and examines the legibility of the Gothic scrip, with an analysis of its development and the creation of a new alphabet according to the Gothic principles.
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