It was with shock and sadness that I read today that Armin and Bryony Vit have decided to close Speak Up. Here’s what I left in the comments:

Dear Bryony, Armin and all former Speak Up authors, I’ve never clearly voiced this before, so I’ll do it now before I lose my chance.

Being selected as one of the original authors on this site was an indescribable honour for me as a student fresh out of university. Here was democracy in action, and I had so much to say and so much to learn. All I had to do to take part was send Armin an email with my favorite serif and sans-serif fonts (I still remember what I said too; Mrs. Eaves and Futura!). Though I only managed to contribute sporadically, Speak Up has been with me my entire career as a professional designer, acting as a dear friend and a credible reference. My most recent CV still proudly states, “former editorial author on Speak Up, the leading graphic design web forum.”

Speak Up has not only allowed me, but forced me to grow as a designer by challenging my assumptions and fostering an interest in areas of design I didn’t think I cared about. Beyond the wealth of design knowledge I gained hanging out here, I also learned about the importance of a distinct editorial voice. This comforting, honest and entertaining voice is what I will miss the most in my daily reading. If I am anything beyond a competent designer today, I owe a lot to the countless hours “wasted” here.

It’s been years since I’ve been an official Speak Up author, yet every Christmas when I return home to my mother’s apartment in Toronto, I find a beautiful letterpressed card from A + B waiting for me. And it means the world to me, sent from people I have yet to meet, it reminds me that I was part of something special, something started and lovingly cared for by genuinely sincere and caring people.

So thank you both. You’ve done an amazing job here. It might sound silly, but I’m damn proud.

PS. In case you were wondering Armin, the “R” in my Nightmare Word It submission stood for Requiem, the typeface it was set in, and now one of my favourite serifs.