Elizabeth Friedlander (1903–1984) worked across a range of media from brochures and patterns to calligraphy and clandestine publishing, but she is most known as the first woman to design a typeface.
Elizabeth Friedlander (1903–1984) worked across a range of media from brochures and patterns to calligraphy and clandestine publishing, but she is most known as the first woman to design a typeface.
Elizabeth Friedlander.
Elizabeth Friedlander.
Born in Berlin, Elizabeth was forced to exchange Germany for Italy in 1936, then went through an unsuccessful attempt to apply for an American visa. She eventually lived in London, before retiring to Kinsale, Ireland.
Born in Berlin, Elizabeth was forced to exchange Germany for Italy in 1936, then went through an unsuccessful attempt to apply for an American visa. She eventually lived in London, before retiring to Kinsale, Ireland.
Elizabeth typeface.
Elizabeth typeface.
In 1933, major Frankfurt type foundry Bauersche Giesserei asked Friedlander to create a font for them. She produced a typeface but was unable to name it Friedlander, as she had wished, because it was a recognizably Jewish name. The typeface was finally released in 1939 under the name Elizabeth, after Friedlander had already left Germany to escape the Second World War. After Germany, Friedlander moved to Italy and later to London where she worked with Jan Tschichold at Penguin Books doing pattern designs. Friedlander’s most famous works are perhaps the classic volumes of the 1950s and 60s—she designed for publishers like Penguin, Reader’s Digest and Mills & Boon.
In 1933, major Frankfurt type foundry Bauersche Giesserei asked Friedlander to create a font for them. She produced a typeface but was unable to name it Friedlander, as she had wished, because it was a recognizably Jewish name. The typeface was finally released in 1939 under the name Elizabeth, after Friedlander had already left Germany to escape the Second World War. After Germany, Friedlander moved to Italy and later to London where she worked with Jan Tschichold at Penguin Books doing pattern designs. Friedlander’s most famous works are perhaps the classic volumes of the 1950s and 60s—she designed for publishers like Penguin, Reader’s Digest and Mills & Boon.
Prisma pattern for Penguin music scores designed by Elizabeth Friedlander, 1954. Paint on paper. Collection of University College Cork. Photo: Sam Moore.
Prisma pattern for Penguin music scores designed by Elizabeth Friedlander, 1954. Paint on paper. Collection of University College Cork. Photo: Sam Moore.
Cover of Penguin’s Progress Eleven publicity booklet & in-house magazine designed by Elizabeth Friedlander, 1950. Collection of niversity College Cork. Photo: Sam Moore.
Cover of Penguin’s Progress Eleven publicity booklet & in-house magazine designed by Elizabeth Friedlander, 1950. Collection of niversity College Cork. Photo: Sam Moore.