A Life Among Letters: The Quiet Work of Clara Istlerová
It’s not often that a project comes along that feels both new and timeless, but a recent publication featured on It’s Nice That seems to strike that balance. A Life Among Letters is a book that delves into the work of Czech graphic designer and typographer Clara Istlerová, a pioneering figure whose contribution to the visual culture of postwar Czechoslovakia is significant, yet not widely known outside of her home country. What makes this project so interesting is its quiet, considered approach. In an age of self-promotion, Istlerová’s story is one of dedication to the craft itself. Working entirely with analogue processes, she was one of the few women in the male-dominated field of Czech typography. Her book covers and typographic work show an expressive and intuitive feel for letterforms, a tangible quality that can sometimes be lost in the digital age. If you grew up in Czechoslovakia, the article notes, you have probably held one of her designs without knowin...