TypographyTypography is what language looks like.
TypographyTypography is what language looks like.
One thing absolutely necessary for working with type is knowing its history:
what came after what and, more importantly, why.
6000 BC 113 CE(1st century)
732 1400800 BC1200 BC3200 BC
Pictograms Hieroglyphs Phoenicians Greek Roman Scribes Gutenberg
a quick primer
Transitional Modern Contemporary
1700 1800 1970
Arts & Crafts
1900
Swiss
1950
Classical/Oldstyle
1490
Transitional Modern Contemporary
1500 1700 1800 1970
Classical/Oldstyle Arts & Crafts
1900
Swiss
1950
Nicolas Jenson
pietro Bembo
Claude Garamond
Classical/OldstyleNicolas Jensonfrancesco Griffopietro BemboClaude Garamond
Classical, or humanist types, have strong roots in calligraphy, mimicking the handwriting of earlier Italian scholars and scribes.
Old Style types, although sharing the same roots, show a marked departure. It’s from this period, that type gets into gear.
A specimen of Nicolas Jenson’s archetypal Roman typefaceLaertis, Venice, 1475
nicolas jenson1420-14801420-1480
centaurbruce rogers, 1914abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
CloisterMorris Fuller Benton, 1926aBCdeFghijklMnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Adobe JensonRobert Slimbach, 1996AbcdefghiJklmnopqRStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
nicolas jenson inspired Typefaces(Humanist)
francesco Griffo
A specimen of Griffo’s typeface, from a 60-page text about a journey to Mount Aetna written by the young Italian poet Pietro BemboDe Aetna, Venice, 1495
(worked for Venetian printer, Aldus Manutius)1450-1518
francesco Griffoinspired Typefaces
BemboStanley Morison, 1929 aBcdefghijklMnopqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
MinionRobert Slimbach, 1990 abcdefghijklMnopqRStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
claude Garamond
Parisian type founder, publisher, punch cutter, type designerGaramond’s roman text face, (based on type from De Aetna) 1540
1480-1561
claude Garamondinspired TypefacesAdobe GaramondRobert Slimbach, 1989 AbcdefGhijklmnopqRStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Adobe Garamond Premier ProRobert Slimbach, 2004AbcdefGhijklmnoPqRStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
SabonJan Tschichold, 1967abcdefghiJklmnopqrSTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Transitional Modern Contemporary
1500 1700 1800 1970
Classical/Oldstyle Arts & Crafts
1900
Swiss
1950
Nicolas Jenson
pietro Bembo
Claude Garamond
William Caslon
John Baskerville
TransitionalWilliam CaslonJohn Baskerville
This new type design, belonging to the 18th century, is now called Transitional because of its intermediate position between the Old Style and Modern styles.
Faces features higher level of contrast, mostly vertical stress, and a more linear, austere design.
william caslon1692-1766
English roman, a Latin text face of the Caslon typefaces. Caslon Specimen Sheet, 1764
william casloninspired TypefacesAdobe CaslonCarol Twombly, 1990 AbCdefghijklmnopqrsTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Caslon Open FaceBarnhart Brothers and Spindler,1915aBCdeFghijklmnOpqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
john baskerville
English businessman, printer and typographer.Folio Bible, Cambridge, 1763
1706-1775
john baskervilleinspired TypefacesBaskervilleBruce Rogers, 1917aBcdefghijklmnopqRstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Baskerville Old FaceStanley Morrison, 1923aBcdeFghijklMnOpqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Mrs. EavesZuzana Licko, 1996abCdEfgHijkLMnopqrstuVwxyZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Transitional Modern
Giambattista Bodoni
frederic Goudy
slab serifs
Grotesques
Contemporary
1500 1700 1800 1970
Classical/Oldstyle Arts & Crafts
1900
Swiss
1950
Nicolas Jenson
pietro Bembo
Claude Garamond
William Caslon
John Baskerville
ModernGiambattista Bodonislab serifsfrederic GoudyGrotesque
Modern fonts have drastically increased contrast, leading this parameter almost to the edge of legibility and technical feasibility.
The most notable Modern offsprings are slab serif fonts (New Century Schoolbook is the most widely used Clarendon font).
GiambaTTisTa bodoni
Italian typographer, most prolific creator of type.Manuale Tipografico, parma, 1818
1740-1813
GiambaTTisTa bodoniinspired TypefacesBauer BodoniHeinrich Jost, 1926aBcdefgHiJklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Bodoni ATFMorris Fuller Benton, 1907ABcdeFghijklMnopqrsTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
FilosofiaZuzana Licko, 1996abcdeFghijkLmnopqrstuvwxyZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
DidotFirmin Didot, 1811abcDeFghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
WalbaumJE Walbaum, 1800abcdEfghiJklmnopqrstuvWxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
similar neoclassical faces
What Prompted Change?18th Century
19th Century
pinnacle for letterpress printing
Mechanicazation offers greater speed at lower quality. Didot and Bodoni cannot survive poor printing conditions, and thick slabs and grotesques are developed.
slab serifs
clarendon
One of the first egyptian slab serif typefaces
Created by robert besley (England), 1845
clarendoninspired TypefacesCentury SchoolbookMorris Fuller Benton, 1918aBCdeFghijklMnopqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Goudy Old StyleFrederic Goudy, 1915abcdeFGhijklmnOpqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
clarendoninspired TypefacesCentury Schoolbook
aBCdeFgabcdefgqaGoudy Old Style
abcdeFGabcdefgqa
Didot
abcDeFgabcdefg qa
Bodoni
ABcdeFgabcdefg qa
wood TypeMetal type casting was limited to a few inches in height due to difficulties of casting larger type, the weight and the cost.
Darius Wells invented the lateral router (1820), a saw that could cut curves in wood allowing for the production of a lighter, larger and cheaper letterform.
1820’s
woodTypeinspired Typefacesrosewoodadobeabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
KnockoutHoefler & Frere-Jones, 2004abcdeFgHiJKlmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
GroTesqueEarly sans-serifs
Didot
abcDeFgabcdefg qa
Akzidenz GroteskHermann Berthold, 1898ABcdefGHijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Akzidenz GroteskHermann Berthold, 1898ABcdefGHijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Franklin GothicMorris Fuller Benton, 1872aBcdeFGhijklMnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
GroTesque
Transitional Modern
Giambattista Bodoni
frederic Goudy
slab serifs
Grotesques
Contemporary
1500 1700 1800 1970
Classical/Oldstyle Arts & Crafts
1900
Swiss
1950
Nicolas Jenson
pietro Bembo
Claude Garamond
William Caslon
John Baskerville
Charles rennie Mackintosh
erik Gill
paul renner
futura
Memphis
Arts & CraftsCharles rennie Mackintosh
erik Gill
Arts & Crafts movement set out to revive the use of fine typography.
The typography from Arts & Crafts is characterized as decorative and flourished.
charles rennie mackinTosh
Scottish architect, designer and sculptor.
1868-1928
mackinTosh inspired Typefaces
eric Gill
British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmakerTitle Page: Troilus and Criseyde, wood Engraving, 1929
1882-1940
Gill TypefacesGill Sans (based on Caslon)1927abCdefGhijklmnopqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Perpetua (based on Baskerville)1926aBcdefghijklmnoPqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Joanna (based on Garamond)1931abcdefGhiJklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
paul renner
German typeface designerSwiss National Tourist Office, Zurich, 1933
1876-1956
renner TypefacesFutura1927abcdeFghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Braggadocio (based on Futura Black)Monotype Corporation, 1930aBCdeFghijklMnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Gotham (inspired by Futura)2000abcdeFGhijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Transitional Modern
Giambattista Bodoni
frederic Goudy
slab serifs
Grotesques
Contemporary
1500 1700 1800 1970
Classical/Oldstyle Arts & Crafts
1900
Charles rennie Mackintosh
erik Gill
paul renner
futura
Memphis
Swiss
1950
Nicolas Jenson
pietro Bembo
Claude Garamond
William Caslon
John Baskerville
adrian frutiger
Max Miedinger
Jan tschichold
helvetica
univers
Swissadrian frutigerMax MiedingerJan tschichold
The Swiss Style (also known as the International Typographic Style), developed in Switzerland in the 1950s.
It emphasizes cleanliness, readability and objectivity. Hallmarks of the Swiss style are asymmetric layouts, use of a grid, sans-serif typefaces, and flush left, ragged right text.
adrian fruTiGer
Swiss typeface designer
b. 1929
fruTiGer TypefacesUnivers1957abcdefghijklmnopqrstUvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Frutiger1975abcdeFghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Avenir 1988Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
max miedinGer
Swiss typeface designer
1910-1980
miedinGer Typefaceshelvetica1957abcdefghijklmnopqrstUvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
helvetica neueerik spiekermann, 1983abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Swiss 721Matthew Carter, 1981abCdefghijklMnopqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
jan Tschichold
German typeface designer
1902-1974
Tschichold Typefaces
Sabon (based on garamond)1967abcdefghiJklmnopqrSTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Transit1931abcdefghijklmnopqrsTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Transitional Modern
Giambattista Bodoni
frederic Goudy
slab serifs
Grotesques
Contemporary
1500 1700 1800 1970
Classical/Oldstyle Arts & Crafts
1900
Charles rennie Mackintosh
erik Gill
paul renner
futura
Memphis
Swiss
1950
adrian frutiger
Max Miedinger
Jan tschichold
helvetica
univers
Nicolas Jenson
pietro Bembo
Claude Garamond
William Caslon
John Baskerville
Matthew Carter
erik spiekermann
Zuzana licko
herb lubalin
trade Gothic
palatino
Matrix
avant Garde
ContemporaryMatthew Cartererik spiekermannZuzana lickoherb lubalin
Contemporary typography draws on historical type developments. It has also been shaken by problems caused by the emergence of inexpensive powerful design software.
Many designers feel there is a cheapening of the quality of type, especially as metal type transfored into digital sets that don’t make allowances for the subtle changes in proportion and shape for different sizes and weights.
maTThew carTer
British born typographer. One of the few type designers who have created typefaces for fonts in metal, photo and the digital medium. Walker Typeface, 1995
b. 1937
carTer TypefacesBell Centennial1978aBCdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Miller1997abcdefghijklMnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Snell Roundhand1965abcdefghijklmnopqRStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
carTer TypefacesGeorgia1996abcdefGhijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Tahoma1994abcdefghijklmnopqrsTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Verdana1997abcdefghijklmnopqrstuVwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
erik spiekermann
German typographer and designer, founded MetaDesignSpierkerblog, http://spiekermann.com
b. 1947
spiekermann TypefacesITC Officina Sans 1991abCdefghIjklmnOpqrSTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
ITC Officina Serif1991abCdefghIjklmnOpqrSTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
FF Meta1991-1998abcdeFghijklMnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
ZuZana licko
Slovak typographer, founded Emigre. Known for 2 notable revivals: Mrs. Eaves (based on Baskerville) and Filosofia (Bodoni)
b. 1961
licko TypefacesMrs. Eaves1996abCdEfgHijkLMnopqrstuVwxyZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Filosofia1996abcdeFghijkLmnopqrstuvwxyZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Matrix Script1992abcdefghijklMnopqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
licko TypefacesMrs. Eaves1996abCdEfgHijkLMnopqrstuVwxyZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Filosofia1996abcdeFghijkLmnopqrstuvwxyZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Matrix Script1992abcdefghijklMnopqrStuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
BodoniABcdeFgabcdefg qa
BaskervilleaBcdefgabcdefg qa
licko Typefacescholla1997abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Journal1990abcdefghiJklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Soda S c r i p t1 995abcd e fgh i j k lmnopqrStuvwxyzabcd e fg h i j k l m nopq r s t u vw x y z1 2 3 4 56789
herb lubalin
Typographer, designer, responsible for 3 important publications: Eros, Fact, and Avant Garde; designed typeface ITC Avant Garde
1918-1981
lubalin Typefaces
ITC Avant Garde Gothic CondensedEd Benguiat, 1974ABCdEfGhIjklmnopqrsTuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Century Gothic (inspired by Avant Garde)Monotype Corporation, 1991AbCdefGhijklMnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789
Avant Garde Gothic 1968AbcdefGhijklmnopqrstuvwxyzabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123456789