Gill Sans - Early 20th Century England
http://www.saab.com/#/

You could address it more directly: a typeface suited to the Romani language.
In the manner that, for instance, Peter Biľak’s types accomodate Slovakian, with its profusion of accents.
Or you could make it decorative, using graphic themes from Romani art: there was a thread here last year or the year before, about type and Maori culture, with some type along those lines.
Or you could transpose data that relates to the Roma directly into type forms, that would be the most contemporary approach.

One of the main components of Roma culture is music, it’s one of the few things that cannot be taken from the dispossessed. That and food. I don’t know if there’s a connection there for you but I highly recommend checking out some Roma music. The music of the downtrodden is almost always the best.

pbc

If you tell me what country your ancestors are from I can probably point you to some good music from there.

pbc

Touché with the Saab call Nick. I like your three ideas - especially the one suited to the language, that could prove to be an interesting approach. Thing is - this is just half of my final project; the other half is part of the International Society of Typographic Designers (ISTD) brief which set up parameters that I felt could help me present the Roma in an authentic // balanced // interesting way. ISTD brief is to publish under the title ’10 things you should know about...’ using one of the following 10 categories:

Science // Sport // Hobbies/Crafts // Gardening // Famous battles // Games // Travel // Plays // Artists // Authors.

I’m choosing Travel. My tutors said it’s a pretty broad requirement and i can basically twist it to 10 things you should know about Ethnic Minorities, or Ethnic Groups of Europe or something along those lines.
The main aim for this book (aside from the 10 things) is to show the way typography can be used to create an interesting visual publication.

So one part type design that is to be used in this second part - the book I’m going to design too. At this stage I imagine it’s going to be a standard alphabet but adding characters that are key to Romani language could be an interesting twist, enough to start on at least. I’ve been checking out the music aspect as much as you can from a tiny island in the south pacific. All very inspiring comments so far by the way. Thanks so much for helping me narrow the field down.

Oh and I’m not fully certain Paul - but I believe my Grandmother said Hungarian Roma? Im about 90% sure.

I don’t know how much you are interested in Roma but they have been traced to India and there are still Roma there.

Ando Drom would be a good place to start. They honor the tradition well. They also have a cimbalon player, which is an amazingly beautiful instrument.

There’s a video documentary called “Gypsy Caravan: when the Road Bends”. It is really great and a good introduction to Roma music. No Hungarian musicians if I remember correctly but some great music and a look at how some Romanian Roma live.

There’s another one called “Latcho Drom” that is also fantastic. I believe that has some Hungarian musicians although I can’t quite remember.

Cheers

“idea of ‘cultural representation through typeface design’”

You might find these old threads interesting:

Can a typeface reflect a culture
http://typophile.com/node/48708

What makes a typeface unique to a nation or culture?
http://typophile.com/node/5768

national typefaces
http://typophile.com/node/32927

…I think there were more like this, but I can’t find them at the moment. But you might want to punch some similar search terms into the system here. Good luck! Sounds really interesting.

The Romany are very mixed racially and tend to be nomadic. Maybe you could investigate the cloth signpainters’ sample books that traveling signpainters would carry to show customers when they arrived in “your town”. I think this was a common custom in the 19th century in France, maybe it was more widespread and if so, there might be some Romany signpainters out there. The lettering styles are very decorative and seem also to fit into the visual culture of the circus. More nomadic connections there.

A short list of Hungarian Roma musicians:
Muzsikas
Besh O Drom
Marta Sebestyen & Muzsikas
Kalyi Jag
There’s also a collection called the Rudolph Vig Collection

pbc

My favorite Romany song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLnT2-z9ujE
_____________________________________________
Personal Art and Design Portal of Ivan Gulkov
www.ivangdesign.com

I don’t have a favorite but this is one of my faves (from the video Latcho Drom):

Balada Conducatorolui by Taraf de Haidouks from Romania

There are places in the world where culture is still in balance, musicians aren’t stars but part of the village, no more or less important than the village baker.

pbc

I need to get that Latcho Drom out on DVD. I have Gypsy Caravan: when the Road Bends - found it very enlightening - a very broad perspective of the Roma. Again, cheers for the response - It’s all been very very helpful. Right now I guess I’m just listing characteristics of the Roma//Gypsies that I’ve discovered so far and seeing what I can then carry through and translate to a typographic element. It’s truing out to be a lot of fun any who

Then you remember the old man from the video I posted - he died in the video you mentioned, what a touching funeral. Where the Road Bends is fabuous - I have it on Tivo at home and watch it every once in a while. Latcho Drom is the story of the Roma told completely in music - starting in India and continuing on through the hot jazz clubs etc. It is a beautiful movie but I have never seen it on DVD, just video.

Drom means road I believe, something the Roma know well.

There’s also a Spanish movie called Vengo which is set in the south of Spain amongst Roma flamenco musicians. It’s fictional but there is some great music in it.

Cheers to the Romani!

pbc

< Please be kind, I’m just a youngin’ >

I must kindly point out:
I believe it should be “young’un” - short for “young one” - not “youngin’, which looks like a verb and makes no sense.

Well done dinazina, thanks for that.