Grave Markers and Kerning – Charles Nix Shares Expertise with NYTimes on Pope Francis’ Tombstone

Recently, Charles Nix, senior executive creative director at Monotype, was asked to share his expertise on Pope Francis’ tombstone and the attention its design has drawn.

The marble slab, reflecting Pope Francis’ request for a simple, unadorned final resting place, displays his Latin name Franciscus in all-capital Times Roman letters, “FRANCISCVS.” However, due to spacing that appears irregular to the eye, the ten letters instead read as “F R A NCISC VS.”

Why would the tombstone have been carved this way, and why does it look discordant, even to the eyes of non-designers?

Read on at The New York Times for insights from Charles Nix on mathematical vs. harmonious kerning and why the spaces between letters have such a large impact.