Hermann Zapf (1918-2015) was a German typographic mastermind whose elegant and versatile typefaces continue to shape the visual landscape of our world. With a career spanning over seven decades, Zapf left an indelible mark on the world of typography, creating iconic fonts like Palatino, Optima, and Zapfino that are still widely used today. His work was characterized by a unique blend of traditional craftsmanship and innovative design, reflecting his passion for calligraphy, typography, and the art of beautiful writing.

But Zapf's contributions to typography go far beyond his iconic fonts. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he developed the Hz-system, a groundbreaking method for avoiding "rivers" of white space that can appear in justified text, specifically designed for digital typesetting. This innovative system involves adjusting word and letter spacing to create a more uniform and aesthetically pleasing text flow, revolutionizing the way we read and interact with text.