Wim Crouwel—The man with the grid

[Celeste]

This topic was imported from the Typophile platform

Hello, Typophiles
Does anyone know who gave Wim Crouwel the surname “Gridnik” ? Though every book or article about the man mentions that surname (and, usually, what it means), I’ve been absolutely unable to discover where it originates…

[George Thomas]

Google is your friend:

"Foundry Gridnik was developed from the single weight monospaced 'typewriter’ face, originally created by Dutch designer Wim Crouwel in the 1960s. Crouwel's devotion to grids and systems led to his affectionate nickname of ‘Mr Gridnik’, and this inspired the new typeface family name. Foundry Gridnik’s distinct geometric design has been described as ‘the thinking man’s Courier’. Crouwel said, ‘I am a functionalist troubled by aesthetics’, and although Gridnik is based on logic, rationality and strict adherence to the grid, it also has a human dimension that sets it apart."

[Celeste]

Yes, I knew about the typeface and the meaning of the “Gridnik” nickname. I was just wondering WHO had found it in the first place.

[George Thomas]

OK, sorry about my mistake.

Perhaps you could get the answer directly from the man:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wim-Crouwel/43136493552