Why? Because it has been available on just about every computer since the mid 80s. Most people – designers and non-designers alike – have either seen or used ITC Zapf Chancery. The two that hold a major place in the history of digital typography are ITC Zapf Chancery and ITC Zapf Dingbats. The designs he did for ITC consisted of the ITC Zapf Book, ITC Zapf International, ITC Zapf Chancery, and ITC Zapf Dingbats, all released between 19. After taking a decade-long break in the mid-1960s from designing commercial typefaces due to the proliferation of the “cloning” or “plagiarizing” of his designs, Zapf re-emerged in 1971 to work with Aaron Burns and the newly founded International Typeface Corporation. Aaron Burns, the president of ITC (and my boss) who in his own right was a notable and influential typographic visionary, was his dear friend, colleague, and partner in “typographic” crime. Hermann Zapf was a frequent visitor at ITC. Hermann Zapf and International Typeface Corporation (ITC)Īaron Burns and Hermann Zapf shortly after ITC was formed in 1970. I am referring to ITC Zapf Chancery and ITC Zapf Dingbats. So rather than repeat what has been beautifully and lovingly said, I will tell you about two of his creations that I had the privilege of witnessing become part of type and design history in my days working at International Typeface Corporation (ITC). Zapf, both professional and personal, some of which are listed at the end of this article. There have been many wonderful tributes to Mr. Zapf’s creations have been seen and put to use by both designers and non-designers alike, and are still being used every day by those who don’t even know his name or his legacy.

But his life’s work includes other influential designs as well. Born in 1918 in Nuremberg, Germany, Hermann Zapf is most known for Palatino and Optima, as well as the calligraphic Zapfino. I’m speaking of Hermann Zapf, the highly regarded type designer, calligrapher, educator and lecturer responsible for some of the 20th century’s most important typefaces. On June 4 th 2015 we lost one of the great ones.

Zapf chancery the office joke