AND PER SE AND

The word “and” is defined this way in the dictionary:
conj. [ME. and, an; AS. and, ond], also; in addition; moreover; as well as.  2. plus; added to; as, 6 and 2 makes 8.  3. as a consequence or result; as, he told her and she knew.

Pretty dry stuff.

Luckily we have a much more luscious way to represent all that.  A sign, in fact, that has enamored designers ever since its creation way back when.  I am referring to the familiar symbol…&.

Officially called an ampersand, it is a lovely curlique of lines unlike any other member of the keyboard and may the most charming of our typographic marks.  The graceful curves of the symbol come from combining the letters in the Latin word et., which meant “and.”  The name of the symbol – ampersand – is derived from the expression “and per se and”, which simply meant that the symbol by itself stood for the word “and.”

It is amazing how all that dull back story could lead to such a cool design because as a matter of fact, the ampersand as a visual invention is a designer’s dream.  Just trace the curves of it and you will see that it has enough twists and twirls to challenge the talent and impress the mind of the most experienced typographer.  And...take a visual journey through all the different variations out there in fontland and you will see a vast variety of designs from sturdy to graceful, poetic to operatic, coy to ornate.

In addition to its form, the & is the perfect symbol for the designing spirit.  Designers are all about the and.  Nonetheless is for accountants; yet is for philosophers; however for lawyers.  And let the politicians have their buts.  But of and (and the & that so beautifully expresses it), what more can be said?  And is not just any old conjunction; it is the quintessential word for creativity which is the work of making connections, forming innovative relationships, forging breakthrough links.  To the designer especially falls the duty of putting together in new ways, of making the new from the existing, of recombining, of constructing.  

Ands upon ands and more ands.

That makes the ampersand the perfect logo for design itself, which is nothing less than the process of taking what is and making what will be.  This notion of the endless connection is best represented by the mobius look of the symbol, especially in the italic version which tend to be more fanciful.  Those swirly curves should serve as a reminder to designers everywhere that + is just adding, that “in addition to” is a mere pile of facts, and that two and two only make four for those with limited imagination. 

So all hail to the mighty &.

And...all that it implies.