New font based on Albert Einstein's handwriting being created through Kickstarter campaign

Creators want to let people 'write like a genius' in his distinctive style

Lizzie Dearden
Wednesday 06 May 2015 10:54 BST
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His writing had a 'clear rhythm, even flow, and soft curves'
His writing had a 'clear rhythm, even flow, and soft curves' (Getty Images/Hulton Archive)

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A new font is being created that simulates Albert Einstein’s handwriting to let anyone “write like a genius”.

A German typographer has been painstakingly copying from thousands of manuscripts left by the theoretical physicist, who died in 1955, to capture how he recorded his famous equations.

Harald Geisler, from Frankfurt, is attempting to raise $15,000 (£10,000) on Kickstarter so he can dedicate more time to the project and make the font ready to use on PCs, Linux, Macs, tablets and phones by the beginning of next year.

Albert Einstein's writing recorded some of the most famous equations in history
Albert Einstein's writing recorded some of the most famous equations in history (Getty Images)

He previously used the site to make a Sigmund Freud typeface and created another based on his own letter writing called Conspired Lovers.

Speaking in a video on Kickstarter, Mr Geisler said the Einstein project started in 2009 “over a series of coffees” with a dancer, Liz Waterhouse, who has physics degree from Harvard.

“I like to imagine that when one uses Einstein’s handwriting as a font that a spark of his genius potentially could reflect in one’s own work,” he added.

The font could include symbols needed for equations
The font could include symbols needed for equations (AFP/Getty Images)

Mr Geisler said he would like to include symbols needed for mathematical equations in the Einstein font and is taking suggestions from physicists.

To create the typeface, he has been tracing magnified manuscripts using a tablet and digital pen and will create four versions of each letter and symbol to imitate handwriting’s natural variation.

So far, the Kickstarter project has raised almost $12,000 (£8,000) from 477 backers.

It coincides with the 100th anniversary of Einstein’s presentation of the complete theory of general relativity to the Prussian Academy.

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