As designers, kerning is one of those esoteric terms we love to use. Not only is it vital to quality typography, it's also a great word to throw into a conversation with non-designers whenever we want to sound smart or abstruse. But how much do we really understand about kerning and how it's applied? At ATypI in Mexico City I broached these topics with Dyana Weissman of The Font Bureau, one of the few type designers who claims to actually enjoy the tedious task of assigning thousands of kern pairs to each font. She explains the difference between kerning and spacing, why it should be done by hand, and the mystical concept of flow.

Click here to watch the FontCast or simply push play below.

Read more about Dyana's process and listen to her soundtrack at Font Bureau's Type 101 blog.

FontCast is FontShop's video podcast featuring the most interesting figures in typography and design. Subscribe in iTunes or watch individual episodes on Vimeo and YouTube.