1. Gill Sans For its timeless uniqueness and likeability
2. Linotype Frutiger Condensed For its 100% clarity. Perfect for signage.
3. Verdana I need a good font for my browser -- and we were allowed to bring our G4, remember?
4. Linotype Univers Condensed I may be the sole inhabitant on the island, but sooner or later I will have the need to publish a catalogue or a list. Univers Condensed will come in handy.
5. PMN Caecilia At the moment I can't stand the sight of it. But this typeface is *so good* that I simply must bring it.
6. Lexicon I have never used this font. I have never owned it. By choosing it to this forum I hope that some yuletime-spirited guy at Enschedé will *give* it to me. In return I shall study it closely.
7. Tate Gallery Corporate Typeface (Wolff Olins) God, it's beautiful! Recently I asked about it in Typophile Forum Type Identification Board. One of you guys said it resembled both VAG and DIN.
8. Minion As good a text face as any when treated right.
9. ITC Bodoni I guess I can't do without a good Bodoni.
MY FAVORITE FACES from the PAST TEN YEARS. My list is influenced by a background in magazine and t-shirt design, and an affinity for display work. I could not settle on an order for these ten.
Biblon by Storm http://www.stormtype.com/htm/bibl.html So much to love, especially the inconsistencies that he manages to keep consistent and the feeling that the letters were 'inked' by a hand-letterer. Download a pdf.
The Royal Family by Giasson http://www.THIRSTYPE.COM/font_royalfamily.html A ingenious mix of DIN and fraktur, the Royal Family is another well-executed Thirstype face. On the job when a particular mall-based chain of goth music stores needs a T-shirt design.
Poetica by Slimbach http://www.adobe.com:80/type/typedesign/slimbach.html Not just another swashbuckling chancery face, Poetica rises above because of its completeness and attention to detail. The alternates and ligatures and ornaments...so much beautiful stuff.
Zapfino by Zapf http://www.fontexplorer.com/FontStore/ Linotype says it better than I can: "A masterpiece from the master himself." What they really meant was: Typorgasm.
The Shire Types by Tankard http://www.TYPOGRAPHY.NET/ A classic in the making. Would love to see these carved out of...coal and hold them in my hands. Would love to see this used more here in the States. I love the fixed height for both uppers and lowers, and the variations.
Sauerkrauto by Core http://www.chank.com/font_detail.php?sku=5267 Lettering based on Germany's license plates? You'd think this was a throwaway font, but such care has been placed on getting it perfect. On the cover of WIRED last month.
Faces from the past decade regrettably not included:
Oz by Chester (thirstype.com) SuperDuper by Rakeng (thirstype.com) **((Alchemy by Tankard (typography.net) Mason by Barnbrook (emigre.com), Idiosynoptium by Griek (www.plusism.u-net.com)))** most anything by Storm (stormtype.com) most anything by Rian Hughes anything by Rodrigo Cavazos (psyops.com) faces by Jim Parkinson, Jim Marcus and Chank Diesel
Partly because it's so hard to narrow the list down to 10, this list isn't exactly my top 10 *individual* favorites, it's more like the 10 faces that come together to paint my favorite picture.
1. Centaur (Jenson, Rogers) - First real font.
2. Galliard (Granjon, Carter) - One giant on another's shoulders.
3. Perpetua (Gill) - The pure essence of Latin.
4. Electra (Dwiggins) - Depths yet to be fathomed.
5. Rotis (Aicher) - Classiest, gutsiest babe this side of Berlin.
Here are my top 10, with the disclaimer that this list changes almost weekly. Yeah, I'm late. I promise not to be influenced by the posts above, having only skimmed over them.
I would participate, but I only noticed this thread had begun 3 days ago, and I'm too busy right now to devote any time to make a contribution. Besides, I don't see why there had to be such a strict and early deadline, not to mention the fact that this isn't exactly the best time of year for widespread participation in something like this. The new year would have been better.
Not to fret, not to worry. Add to the list whenever you get a chance, this year, next year. The thread never ends. There is no strict deadline.
>> The reason for the 'deadline' seemed obvious, but I guess not because we went from 'greatest' faces to 'favorite' faces. If you are posting a 'greatest' list, then you want lists that are not influenced by others, thus everyone posts at a certain time. Favorites, it doesn't really matter. So by all means post, this year, next year, whenever. As you can see, the 'strict' deadline was not a deadline at all. (By the way, the first post was made on Dec. 6.) Personally, I'm learning a lot about type, getting exposure to great opinions and having, uh, fun. I don't see a reason to be sore.
>> I was going to make a couple of suggestions to enrich the Typophile community. If you 'interract remotely' then every time there is a post at Typophile, it sends a copy to your email address. If you do not choose this option, and want to see what's going on since you last visited, click on 'Search_Last Day, or _Last Week or _Last Visit."
Here goes my list too which don't have a order, all are very important for me and to the typography history. Sorry about I did't mention others that contributed for the big transformations around the typography design and our social and intelectual environmment during the time. This list is some of the type faces that I most admire which one for their resons ( Function=Purpose, Form, Legibilty ).
1_Univers - Adrian Frutiger 2_Meta - Erik Spekermann 3_Bembo - Francesco Griffo 4_ Gill Sans - Eric Gill 5_ Bodoni - Giambattista Bodoni 6_ Jenson - Nicholas Jenson 7_ Scala - Martin Majoor 8_Bembo - Francesco Griffo 9_Baskerville - John Baskerville 10_Hoefler Text - Jonathan Hoefler
Sorry to be a curmudgeon here (and I still don't have time to contribute my own ten favorites) but if you're going to post a list here, then shouldn't you include links so we can all see examples of the fonts in your lists?
Hi all, do you the book *emotional digital*? If not, it is a book in which a lot of different typefoundries are being presented. On top of that, they put a list online with links of the presented foundries: http://www.emodigi.de/
Following typefaces should not be forgotten either:
TEFF Renard (The Italic is just it!!!) Trump Mediæval Joanna DTL Fleischmann
I divided my list into my top ten favorite TEXT faces, and my top ten favorite DISPLAY faces, as comparing between the two seemed unrealistic. Even this distinction is subjective, admittedly, as fonts from one category could easily fit into the other (and, in fact, a few are listed in both).
These lists reflect the way I use the fonts most of the time, and they reflect my thinking as of today. If we were to post this list again in a week, it's likely that my selections would be slightly different. I surprised myself with the excellent fonts that I considered (and use quite often), but DIDN'T include, among them: Akzidenz Grotesk, Baskerville, Bodoni, Caslon (Adobe, Berthold, or Caslon 540), Centaur, Century, Cochin, Franklin Gothic, Galliard, Helvetica Neue, Italian Old Style, Kabel (not ITC's), Officina, Meta, Syntax, Triplex and Walbaum.
I also refrained from including my own designs in this list.
TOP TEN FAVORITE TEXT FACES:
#10: BOOKMAN / OLD STYLE (Ludlow, 1925; Merganthaler-Linotype, 1936; Agfa-Monotype ?) (No direct link available; search at fonts.com)
AGFA-Monotype has the best version that I've found; Bitstream's is okay. Avoid ITC's parody.
Whoops. It was pointed out to me quite correctly that I neglected to credit the US Federal Highway Administration for the design of the FHWA Series fonts, which are the standard typefaces used for highway signs in the US, and the inspiration for my #10 display face choice, Interstate.
I haven't yet been able to track down the name(s) of the designer(s) of the FHWA Series, nor its design date.
I believe the following information may have been posted elsewhere on the Typophile Forums, but I can't recall where. It's fairly interesting stuff nonetheless. According to Richard C. Moeur's website (http://members.aol.com/rcmoeur/alphabet.html):
"The standard typefaces used for highway signs in the US are defined in the 'Standard Alphabets for Highway Signs', published by the Federal Highway Administration."
Please join my little typographical inquiry at http://euro.typo.cz and fill in your top 10 typefaces. All of you will be informed about results (if you insert your e-mail address). Today, there are abour 200 answers from all around the world. The deadline is on Sunday. Thank you forr cooperation! Filip Blazek, Czech design critic and designer
It's really hard to determine a top10... I couldn't even make an order, so i just list them:
Interstate - Tobias Frere-Jones Gill Sans - Eric Gill Scala Sans - Martin Majoor Knockout - Jonathan Hoefler Eidetic Neo - Rodrigo Cavazos Vendetta - John Downer Thesis The Sans - Luc(as) de Groot Alchemy - Jeremy Tankard Janson Text - Adobe (after Nicolas Kis) Garamond Condensed - Adobe
Is there somebody who or someplace that sells quality used typefaces like these - not the "300 on a CD" cheapo sets? Sorry, but the orignal prices @ Adobe, Bitstream etc. are just too dang expensive for the likes of me!
15 Dec 2001 — 12:00pm
??I would bring with me to a deserted island
1. Gill Sans
For its timeless uniqueness and likeability
2. Linotype Frutiger Condensed
For its 100% clarity. Perfect for signage.
3. Verdana
I need a good font for my browser -- and we were allowed to bring our G4, remember?
4. Linotype Univers Condensed
I may be the sole inhabitant on the island, but sooner or later I will have the need to publish a catalogue or a list. Univers Condensed will come in handy.
5. PMN Caecilia
At the moment I can't stand the sight of it. But this typeface is *so good* that I simply must bring it.
6. Lexicon
I have never used this font. I have never owned it. By choosing it to this forum I hope that some yuletime-spirited guy at Enschedé will *give* it to me. In return I shall study it closely.
7. Tate Gallery Corporate Typeface (Wolff Olins)
God, it's beautiful! Recently I asked about it in Typophile Forum Type Identification Board. One of you guys said it resembled both VAG and DIN.
8. Minion
As good a text face as any when treated right.
9. ITC Bodoni
I guess I can't do without a good Bodoni.
10. Parisine
I greatly admire the work of JFP!
15 Dec 2001 — 12:01pm
MY FAVORITE FACES from the PAST TEN YEARS.
My list is influenced by a background in magazine and t-shirt design, and an affinity for display work. I could not settle on an order for these ten.
bj
Anisette by Porchez
http://www.fontbureau.com/specimens/anisette.html
http://www.typofonderie.com/Alphabets/Anisette.html
Art Deco Beauty.
Biblon by Storm
http://www.stormtype.com/htm/bibl.html
So much to love, especially the inconsistencies that he manages to keep consistent and the feeling that the letters were 'inked' by a hand-letterer. Download a pdf.
Hoefler Fetish No. 338 by Hoefler
http://www.typography.com/catalog/fetish338/index.html
I can look at this all day. Type candy.
The Royal Family by Giasson
http://www.THIRSTYPE.COM/font_royalfamily.html
A ingenious mix of DIN and fraktur, the Royal Family is another well-executed Thirstype face. On the job when a particular mall-based chain of goth music stores needs a T-shirt design.
Radio by Rakeng
http://www.THIRSTYPE.COM/font_radio.html
Was there ever a face worth waiting for, what was it, three years?
Poetica by Slimbach
http://www.adobe.com:80/type/typedesign/slimbach.html
Not just another swashbuckling chancery face, Poetica rises above because of its completeness and attention to detail. The alternates and ligatures and ornaments...so much beautiful stuff.
Zapfino by Zapf
http://www.fontexplorer.com/FontStore/
Linotype says it better than I can: "A masterpiece from the master himself." What they really meant was: Typorgasm.
The Shire Types by Tankard
http://www.TYPOGRAPHY.NET/
A classic in the making. Would love to see these carved out of...coal and hold them in my hands. Would love to see this used more here in the States. I love the fixed height for both uppers and lowers, and the variations.
Sauerkrauto by Core
http://www.chank.com/font_detail.php?sku=5267
Lettering based on Germany's license plates? You'd think this was a throwaway font, but such care has been placed on getting it perfect. On the cover of WIRED last month.
Mantinia by Carter
http://www.fontbureau.com/specimens/mantinia.html
I love the mix of points and curves. Also, the lovely descenders on the 'Q' and 'R' are songs of the siren.
Faces from the past decade regrettably not included:
Oz by Chester (thirstype.com)
SuperDuper by Rakeng (thirstype.com)
**((Alchemy by Tankard (typography.net) Mason by Barnbrook (emigre.com), Idiosynoptium by Griek (www.plusism.u-net.com)))**
most anything by Storm (stormtype.com)
most anything by Rian Hughes
anything by Rodrigo Cavazos (psyops.com)
faces by Jim Parkinson, Jim Marcus and Chank Diesel
15 Dec 2001 — 1:34pm
Partly because it's so hard to narrow the list down to 10, this list isn't exactly my top 10 *individual* favorites, it's more like the 10 faces that come together to paint my favorite picture.
1. Centaur (Jenson, Rogers) - First real font.
2. Galliard (Granjon, Carter) - One giant on another's shoulders.
3. Perpetua (Gill) - The pure essence of Latin.
4. Electra (Dwiggins) - Depths yet to be fathomed.
5. Rotis (Aicher) - Classiest, gutsiest babe this side of Berlin.
6. Lexicon (de Does) - Function and Style living in total bliss.
http://www.teff.nl/fonts/lexicon/lexicon.html
7. Quadraat (Smeijers) - Youthful energy plus ancient wisdom.
http://www.fontfont.de/packages/quadra6180/about6180.html
8. Colorado (Mandel) - Trench warfare, but with panache.
Very hard to find a specimen, but here's something:
http://www.themicrofoundry.com/other/mandel.gif
9. Salome (Schulz) - The organic rebirth of humanity.
I guess the only real place to see it is in "Alphabook":
http://isbn.nu/0688168515
10. Mis-hafi (Al-Saadi, Diwan) - Zapfino, eat your heart out.
http://www.diwan.com/mishafi/main.htm
BONUS for 2001:
Compatil (Linotype) - Intelligent ambition.
http://www.fontexplorer.com/FontStore/1078185705/UserTemplate/44
hhp
15 Dec 2001 — 1:37pm
Here are my top 10, with the disclaimer that this
list changes almost weekly. Yeah, I'm late. I
promise not to be influenced by the posts above,
having only skimmed over them.
Sans
Verdana - I can't get used to anything else on
my screen.
http://www.myfonts.com/FontFamily458.html
Knockout - I've used this more than any single
family. It's amazingly versatile with a nod to
the warm wood type of the past.
http://www.typography.com/catalog/knockout/index.html
Avenir - The geometry and clarity of Futura, only
less austere.
http://www.myfonts.com/FontFamily3439.html
Serif
Poynter Oldstyle - Emminently readable. Weights
that don't increase the width allow for quick
changes in color.
http://www.fontbureau.com/readability/
FB Californian - The best of Goudy. I will set
all my poetry about my dreary fate on the
deserted island in this family.
http://www.fontbureau.com/specimens/californian.html
Script
Freehand 521 - Retro.
http://www.myfonts.com/FontFamily220.html
Sloop - Formal.
http://www.myfonts.com/FontFamily566.html
Display
Bauer Topic/Futura Steile - It's just so cute.
I will cheat and bundle Futura Display here
for poster makin'.
http://www.precisiontype.com/main.asp
http://www.myfonts.com/FontFamily2429.html
Dante Titling - Lovely proportions for large
sizes. The alternative in a world where Trajan
is used for everything but bubblegum wrappers.
http://www.adobe.com:80/type/browser/F/DANT/F_DANT-10005020.html
Farao - My new favorite Egyptienne. Good for
tough, bold jobs when it's big, and sparkle when
it's small.
http://www.stormtype.com/htm/farao.html
Stephen
15 Dec 2001 — 1:37pm
Ooops, I forgot to say this: my list is chronological.
hhp
16 Dec 2001 — 4:15am
Hey, what happened? I expected an overwhelming number of postings within the first few hours.
Soren O
16 Dec 2001 — 10:08am
Welcome to the fervently participatory world of type discussion forums.
hhp
16 Dec 2001 — 5:58pm
I would participate, but I only noticed this thread had begun 3 days ago, and I'm too busy right now to devote any time to make a contribution. Besides, I don't see why there had to be such a strict and early deadline, not to mention the fact that this isn't exactly the best time of year for widespread participation in something like this. The new year would have been better.
16 Dec 2001 — 7:17pm
Not to fret, not to worry. Add to the list whenever you get a chance, this year, next year. The thread never ends. There is no strict deadline.
>> The reason for the 'deadline' seemed obvious, but I guess not because we went from 'greatest' faces to 'favorite' faces. If you are posting a 'greatest' list, then you want lists that are not influenced by others, thus everyone posts at a certain time. Favorites, it doesn't really matter. So by all means post, this year, next year, whenever. As you can see, the 'strict' deadline was not a deadline at all. (By the way, the first post was made on Dec. 6.) Personally, I'm learning a lot about type, getting exposure to great opinions and having, uh, fun. I don't see a reason to be sore.
>> I was going to make a couple of suggestions to enrich the Typophile community. If you 'interract remotely' then every time there is a post at Typophile, it sends a copy to your email address. If you do not choose this option, and want to see what's going on since you last visited, click on 'Search_Last Day, or _Last Week or _Last Visit."
bj
17 Dec 2001 — 8:42am
Here goes my list, a little late. I just didn
18 Dec 2001 — 1:01pm
Here goes my list too which don't have a order, all are very important for me and to the typography history. Sorry about I did't mention others that contributed for the big transformations around the typography design and our social and intelectual environmment during the time. This list is some of the type faces that I most admire which one for their resons ( Function=Purpose, Form, Legibilty ).
1_Univers - Adrian Frutiger
2_Meta - Erik Spekermann
3_Bembo - Francesco Griffo
4_ Gill Sans - Eric Gill
5_ Bodoni - Giambattista Bodoni
6_ Jenson - Nicholas Jenson
7_ Scala - Martin Majoor
8_Bembo - Francesco Griffo
9_Baskerville - John Baskerville
10_Hoefler Text - Jonathan Hoefler
Regards for all / Ricardo Santos
20 Dec 2001 — 7:50am
I'm going to be a little different with my list, top five fonts loaded in my atm that I'm waiting patiently to use some day... (maybe)
Jesus Loves You
Disturbance
Box-alphabet
Lust's Razor
Backspacer
21 Dec 2001 — 8:22am
Sorry to be a curmudgeon here (and I still don't have time to contribute my own ten favorites) but if you're going to post a list here, then shouldn't you include links so we can all see examples of the fonts in your lists?
21 Dec 2001 — 10:31am
Yes, please!
hhp
29 Dec 2001 — 2:01pm
Inexcusable Typophile blunder: using the word 'decenders' instead of 'tails' in describing Mantinia.
bj
someone enterprising want to start a glossary thread for low-level typophiles?
30 Dec 2001 — 11:49am
Hi all,
do you the book *emotional digital*? If not, it is a book in which a lot of different typefoundries are being presented. On top of that, they put a list online with links of the presented foundries: http://www.emodigi.de/
Following typefaces should not be forgotten either:
TEFF Renard (The Italic is just it!!!)
Trump Mediæval
Joanna
DTL Fleischmann
Jacques
30 Dec 2001 — 10:51pm
"Used"?! Like with a few "1" bits eroded to zeros with wear and tear?...
Seriously: some font prices can seem too high to some people - and no matter what certain type designers might tell you, it's not your fault.
hhp
15 Dec 2001 — 2:37pm
I divided my list into my top ten favorite TEXT faces, and my top ten favorite DISPLAY faces, as comparing between the two seemed unrealistic. Even this distinction is subjective, admittedly, as fonts from one category could easily fit into the other (and, in fact, a few are listed in both).
These lists reflect the way I use the fonts most of the time, and they reflect my thinking as of today. If we were to post this list again in a week, it's likely that my selections would be slightly different. I surprised myself with the excellent fonts that I considered (and use quite often), but DIDN'T include, among them: Akzidenz Grotesk, Baskerville, Bodoni, Caslon (Adobe, Berthold, or Caslon 540), Centaur, Century, Cochin, Franklin Gothic, Galliard, Helvetica Neue, Italian Old Style, Kabel (not ITC's), Officina, Meta, Syntax, Triplex and Walbaum.
I also refrained from including my own designs in this list.
TOP TEN FAVORITE TEXT FACES:
#10: BOOKMAN / OLD STYLE (Ludlow, 1925; Merganthaler-Linotype, 1936; Agfa-Monotype ?)
(No direct link available; search at fonts.com)
AGFA-Monotype has the best version that I've found; Bitstream's is okay. Avoid ITC's parody.
#9: PLANTIN (Agfa-Monotype
16 Dec 2001 — 12:50am
Whoops. It was pointed out to me quite correctly that I neglected to credit the US Federal Highway Administration for the design of the FHWA Series fonts, which are the standard typefaces used for highway signs in the US, and the inspiration for my #10 display face choice, Interstate.
I haven't yet been able to track down the name(s) of the designer(s) of the FHWA Series, nor its design date.
I believe the following information may have been posted elsewhere on the Typophile Forums, but I can't recall where. It's fairly interesting stuff nonetheless. According to Richard C. Moeur's website (http://members.aol.com/rcmoeur/alphabet.html):
"The standard typefaces used for highway signs in the US are defined in the 'Standard Alphabets for Highway Signs', published by the Federal Highway Administration."
Apologies for the omission.
David
17 Dec 2001 — 2:22pm
Please join my little typographical inquiry at http://euro.typo.cz and fill in your top 10 typefaces. All of you will be informed about results (if you insert your e-mail address). Today, there are abour 200 answers from all around the world. The deadline is on Sunday. Thank you forr cooperation! Filip Blazek, Czech design critic and designer
19 Dec 2001 — 2:58pm
It's really hard to determine a top10...
I couldn't even make an order, so i just list them:
Interstate - Tobias Frere-Jones
Gill Sans - Eric Gill
Scala Sans - Martin Majoor
Knockout - Jonathan Hoefler
Eidetic Neo - Rodrigo Cavazos
Vendetta - John Downer
Thesis The Sans - Luc(as) de Groot
Alchemy - Jeremy Tankard
Janson Text - Adobe (after Nicolas Kis)
Garamond Condensed - Adobe
30 Dec 2001 — 10:35pm
Is there somebody who or someplace that sells quality used typefaces like these - not the "300 on a CD" cheapo sets? Sorry, but the orignal prices @ Adobe, Bitstream etc. are just too dang expensive for the likes of me!