GALAPAGOS DESIGN GROUP - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Designer
• Principal
• Senior Staff Member

With nearly two decades of experience in the study and practice of type design, Dennis is an accomplished designer of original typefaces. Unlike many who work in the digital medium, Dennis considers himself a craftsman, in the tradition of the masters who worked prior to the digital era. Although it is mathematical figures and patterns that populate his computer monitors, Dennis often senses the wood, metal and brushes employed by his professional antecedents. Before becoming one of the founders of Galápagos Design Group in 1994, Dennis worked for several of the major players in the type arena, including Compugraphic Corporation, Autologic, Inc., and Bitstream, Inc. Dennis' growing body of original designs include the typefaces developed during his tenure at Galápagos Design Group-the Maiandra™ GD family, Baltra™ GD and ITC Stylus.™ A noteworthy earlier design is the text/display family, Bitstream Chianti.™ All of Dennis' designs have traditional roots, and are highly readable; they focus on the reader, rather than on their potential as graphic elements. Dennis holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in design from the Massachusetts College of Art. He is also a member of the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI).

Job Titles:

• Designer
• Principal
• Senior Staff Member

Since that epochal time, and before becoming one of the founders of Galápagos Design Group in 1994, George worked at Mergenthaler Linotype Company as a senior designer, and later as Director of Typographic Production at Bitstream, Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts. An accomplished designer of original typefaces (Bitstream Oz Handicraft,™ Kennedy™ GD, ITC Kristen,™ Nikki New Roman™ GD,™ Mohawcs Note™ GD and Web-O-Mints™ GD), George is also purveyor of the production process. He knows what can go wrong, and where the subtle dangers lurk. With a wealth of (software) tools in his saddlebags, and a range-savvy eye for trouble, George keeps the stage on-trail and heading forward. George is well-known for his no-nonsense, individual approach ("I did it my way!"), his in-depth knowledge of the idiosyncracies of Kanji production issues, and his signature query, "Anybody want some cawfee?" George holds an Associate in Arts degree in commercial art from New York State University.

Job Titles:

• President
• Senior Staff Member
• Member of the Association Typographique Internationale

"Having concluded five full years of business," observes Larry, "and with an annual growth rate of 20%, it is gratifying to realize how well we've been received in the type-related markets." Asked to what he attributes this reception, Larry responds, "Galápagos is the place to shop for fonts! The synergy of our state-of-the-art design tools and unique blend of design and technical talent-that's what accounts for our success." Larry has nearly 30 years experience in typographic design and product development. Before founding Galápagos Design Group at the start of 1994, Larry held the position of Vice President of Type Operations at Bitstream, Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts. As the first employee of Bitstream, Larry was at the forefront of the emerging technological advancements that the world of type witnessed during the decade of the 1980's. His responsibilities included strategic planning and development of domestic and international marketplaces. Prior to joining Bitstream, Larry was a long-time employee of the Mergenthaler Linotype Company in New York City. At Linotype, Larry honed his design and management skills, serving in positions of ever-increasing responsibility. Larry is a member of the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI), as well as a member of the Type Directors Club. In addition, Larry is a long-standing Friend of the Printing Museum.

Job Titles:

• Director
• President of the Association Typographique Internationale

Mark has more than 20 years experience in the graphic arts and typeface businesses. Until recently, Mark was President and CEO of ITC, the typeface licensing company, which he ran for 14 years. During that time Mark was responsible for navigating the international success of ITC through several significant market and technology changes. Prior to this, Mark ran Letraset's international marketing function which included Letraset's licensing activity. Larry Oppenberg stated: "Mark is an independent, impartial and experienced voice. He will be very useful in helping us to set strategies for the future, as well as helping us in our company's development and continued growth." As part of a long standing commitment to the type industry, Mark is President of the Association Typographique Internationale (ATypI), and is a member of many other associations involved in the world of type and typography.

Job Titles:

• Designer
• Principal
• Senior Staff Member
• Expert

Mike has more than a dozen years experience as a type designer and type technologist. Before becoming one of the founders of Galápagos Design Group in 1994, Mike worked alongside the other company founders at Bitstream, Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He began his type career at Compugraphic Corporation. Mike is an expert in the application of typographic hinting technologies for all of the extant intelligent font formats. While at Compugraphic, Mike was a pioneer in the development of Intellifont-format typefaces. His work at Bitstream involved similar endeavors with Fontware, Speedo, PostScript and TrueType technologies.

Job Titles:

• Designer
• Principal
• Senior Staff Member

Steve has over 20 years experience as a type designer and artist. Before becoming one of the founders of Galápagos Design Group in 1994, Steve honed his type design skills at Compugraphic Corporation, and later as a member of the senior design staff at Bitstream, Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts. During his ten years at Bitstream, Steve was a primary contributor to the evolution of one of the world's most prestigious digital type libraries. Steve holds a certificate in Fine Art, as well as one in Commercial Art, both from the Monserratt School of Art. He also studied film animation at the Carpenter Center. Steve's interest in illustrations and cartoons is reflected in some of his original type designs, which include the cartoon lettering font ITC Fontoon,™ the whimsical ITC Fontoonies,™ ITC Gargoonies,™ and ITC Backyard Beatsties™ (and ITC Toonies™ Family which is a collection of all four fonts). Steve is also the designer of the controversial Safefont™ GD, as well as the more traditional typefaces Tangient™ GD and Wakefield™ GD.