TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I don't think the comment you made will elicit the level of respect for the
technical writing field you hoped to achieve. First, you say "hire a
technical writing" instead of either "technical writer" or "technical
writing specialist". Next, the bitter tone of your comment will do nothing
to improve the public perception of our practitioners as professionals, and
will serve to build walls between know-it-all information design blowhards
and the other practitioners with whom we desire partnership.
I gained insight from the article in how designers approach type. Engineers
like their separate boxes, but designers often suggest uses which require
positioning outside the box.
If I have any objection to the piece, it's that using pixels to measure
typefaces instead of points suggests that measurements are precise instead
of relative. For instance, a font is measured from the top of the ascenders
to the bottom of the descenders. Typographers using points understand the
baseline could fall anywhere, and will work to align the baselines when
different typefaces are mixed. However, the concept of pixels (to me)
suggests perfect boxes, even though that won't be the case.
Is there's any reason for the two font usages to measure differently, it's
because the baseline and the x-height of the fonts are different. (Font is
a specific size and variant of a typeface. That could have been explained
too.
But overall, teaching engineers that designers don't position with boxes
but use boxes to guide the visible portions of type is not a bad thing at
all, and doesn't warrant the type of comment you left.
Regards,
-Tony
On Sunday, 28 August 2016, Steve Hudson <sh1448291904 -at- gmail -dot- com
<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sh1448291904 -at- gmail -dot- com');>> wrote:
>https://medium.engineering/typography-is-impossible-5872b0c7
> f891#.h6obkxudm
>
> Of course, I couldn't read that without a comment.
>
> To you guys, I will say this. This link contains high macabre comedy
> regarding how an engineer approaches typography. I need medicating
> urgently.
>
> Steve Hudson
> Word Heretic
>
>
>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Visit TechWhirl for the latest on content technology, content strategy and content development | http://techwhirl.com
