Typography is a design tool so universally used that almost everyone can name at least one typeface.
Before we dive into some famous and historically important typefaces, there are two basic distinctions you should understand.
Types of Typefaces
It is also important to know that there are three major kinds of typefaces.
The first two categories are the most well-known:serifandsans serif.
The last category includesdecorative typefacesthat have other details purely for ornamentation.
Some say thatscriptis a fourth category while others claim it fits under decorative.
Why are there different fonts?
There is a need for a wide array of fonts, but you might be wondering why.
French jot down designer Jean-Baptiste Levee explains that building a good font collection is like populating ones wardrobe.
It requires a balance between versatility and expressivity… everyday accessories, and special outfits for special occasions.
Typography helps us convey ideas that we cannot directly express.
These assumptions are based on common themes we see every day.
Typeface designer Carol Twombly adapted the historic typeface for Adobe in 1989.
Textura
Texturais another digital typeface with a timestamp long before its digitization.
It is sometimes described as gothic or the Old English typeface.
Other variations of Blackletter, like Fraktur, are considered child systems of this typeface.
His original typefaces now exist as a range of legible serif fonts.
Didot
TheDidottypeface is named after the printing Didot family.
Firmin and Pierre Didot developed many variations of the style between 1784 and 1811.
These designs, along with Bodoni, were the beginning of the Didone style of typefaces.
Didot and other typefaces in the modern or Didone classification are designed for title or subheading text.
Bodoni
GiambattisaBodonidesigned the Bodoni typeface in 1798 but has since undergone many revisions.
It is a popular typeface for movie posters and logos, including the famous CK for Calvin Klein.
It may seem similar to Baskerville, an earlier serif typeface on this list.
Franklin Gothic
Franklin Gothicis a great example of a grotesque sans serif typeface.
Franklin is in reference to Benjamin Franklin, while gothic used to refer to any sans serif typeface.
Franklin Gothic was popular for simple and bold advertising and worked great as a header.
Garamond
Garamondincludes many typefaces based on the old-style typefaces.
Futura
You may think that naming a fontFuturais a bold move.
It was designed by Paul Renner in 1927 in accordance to trends of the International Style.
This is why you may find some similarities between Futura and the Bauhaus font.
Both were interested in creating a universal or International font.
Times New Roman
Times New Romanmay be the most recognizable name on this list of influential fonts.
The Times London then asked him to create a better alternative himself.
The result was a font that is almost undeniably more legible.
Considering its widespread use today, we can be sure that Morrisons design was a success.
This may seem overly romantic for people not passionate about typography.
The International Style was in need of a poster child typeface, and Helvetica met the demand.
Univers
Universwas invented by Adrian Frutiger and released in 1957.
Other typefaces included large differences in the lettering between fonts (variation of the typeface).
Univers attempted to standardize many variations so that all elements stayed consistent and could be used in multiple ways.
Bauhaus
TheBauhauswas a German school at the center of the International Style.
It attempted to standardize elements of design to help make them universal and accessible to everyone.
The Bauhaus font was the attempt to create a universally good typeface.
The emphasis must be on absolute clarity.
The font most would recognize as the Bauhaus typeface came from years ofart nouveauinspired serif typefaces.
The one we know instead focused on geometry, simplifying letters to the core characteristics for legibility and function.
Frutiger
Frutigeris a humanist sans serif typeface designed for clarity and legibility.
It is named for the famous Swiss designer Adrian Frutiger who created it and other typefaces on this list.
This pride was based on the belief that Frutiger lacked all unnecessary ornamentation.
Nicholas describes, It was designed as a generic sans serif; almost a bland sans serif.
This simplicity helped it become widely used.
Its creator, Adrian Frutiger, chose this name because of its modern and geometric qualities.
Minion
Minionwas designed by Robert Slimbach and Carol Twombly for Adobe in 1990.
The serif font was inspired by Renaissance lettering and classic text from early book printing.
Since its simple serif makes it easily legible, Minion is very popular in modern book production as well.
Comic Sans
Comic Sansis almost as widely hated as it is known.
Connare explains that the typeface was born out of necessity.
You may find similarities between Verdana and Frutiger, found earlier on this list.
Both are examples of humanist fonts.
The wide and simple letters are legible on computer screens, which is why Virginia Howlett suggested its creation.
