Gerhard: I am well aware of how the eszett is applied and how the
preceding vowel is pronounced. I had to learn the eszett rule, and its
many exceptions for four years, one hour a week as part of my training
as a typesetter thirty years ago. I understand that the meaning of the
word changes dramatically depending on pronunciation. However, in your
example one is a noun (Floß), the other a verb. I put it to you that no-
one would really have any problems differentiating the two. The same
goes for 'Maße' and 'Masse' - one in plural, the other in singular.
Don't forget that we do read in context. Anyway, although I haven't
changed my opinion on the relevance of the ß, I accept that I can't
change the habits of two entire nations. :-)

Thorsten: I agree that we have to create a glyph that has relevance to
what two nations are used to, rightly or wrongly. However, I believe
that within these parameters we have a duty to create a form that is in
harmony with all the letter surrounding it. In fact, that is the primary
challange of typeface design, to make sure all the glyphs work together
in whatever combination. Of course, we also have to accept that there
will be situations that simply cannot be created in the most perfect way
- for these we have to step back and compromise.

Dalton Maag has indeed been commissioned by Canonical to create this
suite of fonts but that does not mean that we have to blindly follow
what we are told is the best solution. I personally, have 30 years of
typography and type design experience, my senior colleague Ron Carpenter
has created letterforms for over 40 years. We know our stuff and it is
my professional duty, as a designer, to explore the best possible
outcome for the design. And if that involves investigating solutions
that are unacceptable, so be it. But the investigation has to be done,
in any case. To suggest that we do the experimentation on our own dime
and simply provide the mediocre accepted form is, IMO, deeply
unprofessional. I have started to sketch and have gone through a number
of designs. From this initial research I can tell you that the end
result is unlikely to differ radically from the the forms that have been
discussed.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/650498

Title:
  Expansion: 'ẞ' LATIN CAPTIAL LETTER SHARP S (U+1E9E)

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