Remembering Hermann Zapf

Hermann Zapf, a master of typography and legendary type designer, passed away on June 4, 2015.

I first met Hermann Zapf in 1988 at a calligraphy conference in Washington DC, within a few years of receiving a design degree, and early in my career as a designer and lettering artist.

He astounded us by drawing the most exquisite alphabet composition — on the blackboard with a piece of chalk — something he did multiple times for students around the world.

For the last 35 years, his influence upon...