Typography Onetypeface classification

Why classify?

Classification helps us describe and navigate type choices

Typeface classification helps to:

1. sort type (scholars, historians, type manufacturers),

2. reference type (educators, students, designers, scholars)

Approximately 250,000 digital typefaces are available today—

Even with excellent search engines, a common system of description is a big help!

classification systemsMany systems have been proposed

Francis Thibaudeau, 1921

Maximillian Vox, 1952

Vox-ATypI, 1962

Aldo Novarese, 1964

Alexander Lawson, 1966Blackletter

Venetian

French

Dutch-English

Transitional

Modern

Sans Serif

Square Serif

Script-Cursive

Decorative

J. Ben Lieberman, 1967

Marcel Janco, 1978

Ellen Lupton, 2004

The classification system you will learn is a combination of Lawson’s and Lupton’s systems

Black LetterOld Style serifTransitional serif Modern Style serif Script Cursive

Slab SerifGeometric SansGrotesque SansHumanist SansDisplay & Decorative

basic characteristics

+ stress

+ serifs (or lack thereof)

+ shape

stress: where the thinnest parts of a letter fall

diagonal stressOld Style serif

(Centaur)

vertical stressTransitional serif or Modern Style serif

(Baskerville)

no stressSlab Serif orSans Serif(Helvetica)

horizontal stress or reverse stress

Display & Decorative(Edmunds)

serif types

bracketed serifsOld Style Serif andTransitional Serif

(Baskerville)

unbracketed serifsModern Style Serif

(Bodoni)

slab serifsSlab Serif or Square Serif

or Egyptian(Rockwell/Clarendon)

no serifSans Serif(Helvetica)

shape

Humanist Sans Serif(Gill Sans)

Grotesk Sans Serif(Helvetica)

Geometric Sans Serif(Futura)

Humanist sans are based on human writing. They have asymetrical curves, open apetures, and finials that reach away from the letter.

Grotesk sans look precisely drawn. They have have uniform, symetrical curves

Geometric sans are based on basicshapes like circles, triangles, and rectangles.

problem area:stress direction

12 & 6: vertical stress9 & 3: horizonal stressEverything else:diagonal stress

Remember the clock Look at all the round letters

diagonal stressOld Style serif (Caslon)

vertical stressTransitional serif (Baskerville)

problem area:humanist vs. grotesk

Grotesk Sans Serifsymetrical curves

(Helvetica)

Humanist Sans Serifasymetrical curves

(Gill Sans)

Black LetterBlack letter was developed from the handwritten manuscripts of 1400’s Germany.

+ upright calligraphic strokes

+ looks medieval

Old style serifA style popular from the 1460’s–1770’s

+ diagonal stress in the round strokes

+ Minimal variation of thick and thin strokes

+ small, coarse serifs, often with concave bases

+ small x-height

+ lowercase ascenders often exceed the capital height

Transitional serifA style introduced in the 1780’s by John Baskerville.

+ vertical stress in rounded strokes

+ bracketed serifs with flat bases

+ greater contrast between thick and thin strokes

+ larger x-height

+ lowercase ascenders often match the capital height

Modern Style serifIntroduced in the 1770s by Didot and Bodoni.

+ vertical stress in rounded strokes

+ unbracketed hairline serifs

+ extreme contrast between thick and thin strokes

+ small x-height

ScriptDesigned to mimic hand-written text

+ looks hand written

+ joined lowercase letters

+ variation between thick and thin strokes

+ no serifs (often replaced by swashes)

+ a variety of x-heights

CursiveDesigned to mimic hand-written text

+ looks hand written

+ unjoined lowercase letters

+ variation between thick and thin strokes

+ no serifs (often replaced by swashes)

+ a variety of x-heights

Display & Decorative

Introduced in the 1800s to meet the demands of advertising.

+ often whimsical or decorated

+ usually only legible at large sizes

+ wide variation in stroke weight and quality

+ both serif and sans serif

Slab Serif(Also called Square Serif or Egyptian)

Introduced in the early 1800s.

+ thick serifs with squared-off ends; serifs are nearly as thick as strokes

+ slab serifs may be bracketed or unbracketed)

+ minimal variation of thick and thin strokes

+ large x-height

+ vertical stress (if any) in rounded strokes

Geometric Sans+ Sans serif constucted with geometric forms: triangles, circles, squares

Grotesque SansSans serif with a precise, mechanical appearance

+ uniform, symetrical curves

+ little to no variation of thick and thin strokes

+ May also be spelled “Grotesk”

Humanist SansSans serif with the shape of human writing

+ asymetrical curves and open apetures

+ some variation of thick and thin strokes

Type classificationdecisions

Typography 1Professor King

revised 23 Sep 2014 2

1: start easy:Does it look like medeival calligraphy, like Goudy Text? Then it’s Blackletter.

Does it look decorated? Is it only legible in large sizes, like Cottonwood? Then it’s Display & Decorative.

Does it look like handwriting? If yes, are the letters connected, like Snell Roundhand? Then it’s Script.

If it looks like writing but the letters do not connect, like Charme, then it’s Cursive.

2: is it a serif face? Look at the stress of the round letters and the serif style.Does it have thick square serifs, like Rockwell or Clarendon? It’s a Slab Serif. (Also known as a Square Serif or Egyptian.)

Do the round letters have diagonal stress, like Centaur? It’s an Old Style Serif.

Does it have vertical stress and bracketed serifs, like Baskerville? Then it’s a Transitional Serif.

Does it have vertical stress and unbracketed serifs, like Bodoni? Then it’s a Modern Style Serif.

3: is it a sans serif face? Is it based on circles, squares, and triangles, like Futura? Then it’s a Geometric Sans Serif.

Does it have uniform, symetrical curves? Does it look carefully drawn instead of written, like Helvetica? Then it’s a Grotesk Sans Serif. (Also spelled Grotesque.)

Does it have have asymetrical curves and open apetures, like Gill Sans? Then it’s a Humanist Sans Serif. (Some Humanist Sans faces also have variations of thick and thin strokes.)

rev: 22 Sept. 2012

Typography 1Professor KingType classification

characteristics

diagonal stressOld Style serif

(Centaur)

vertical stressTransitional serif or Modern Style serif

(Baskerville)

no stressSlab Serif orSans Serif(Helvetica)

horizontal stress or reverse stress

Display & Decorative(Edmunds)

bracketed serifsOld Style Serif andTransitional Serif

(Baskerville)

unbracketed serifsModern Style Serif

(Bodoni)

slab serifsSlab Serif or Square Serif

or Egyptian(Rockwell/Clarendon)

no serifSans Serif(Helvetica)

Humanist Sans Serif(Gill Sans)

Grotesk Sans Serif(Helvetica)

Geometric Sans Serif(Futura)

Humanist sans are based on human writing. They have asymetrical curves, open apetures, and finials that reach away from the letter.

Grotesk sans look precisely drawn. They have have uniform, symetrical curves

Geometric sans are based on basicshapes like circles, triangles, and rectangles.

Classification decision guide sheet: use for practice and worksheets.

type classification quiz:

+ 25 typefaces to classify (None from worksheet: all new.)+ Classification: 2 points+ Explanation: 2 pointsYou must understand the process and explain your thinking to do well.

type classification practice

fill in the worksheet along with the lecture

1. Goudy Text: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

1. Goudy Text: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

Black Letter, because it looks like medieval calligraphy

2. Centaur: Big fjords vex quick waltz nymph.

2. Centaur: Big fjords vex quick waltz nymph.

Old Style, because it has diagonal stress and bracketed serifs

3. Baskerville: Two driven jocks help fax my big quiz.

3. Baskerville: Two driven jocks help fax my big quiz.

Transitional serif, because it has vertical stress and bracketed serifs

4.Didot: Ficklejinxbogdwarvesspymathquiz.

4.Didot: Ficklejinxbogdwarvesspymathquiz. Modern Style, because it has vertical stress and unbracketed serifs

5. Rockwell: Bawds jog, flick quartz, vex nymph.

5. Rockwell: Bawds jog, flick quartz, vex nymph.

Slab Serif, because it has thick square serifs

6. Snell Roundhand: Nymphs blitz quick vex dwarf jog.

6. Snell Roundhand: Nymphs blitz quick vex dwarf jog.

Script, because it looks like handwriting with joined lowercase

7. Gill Sans: Vamp fox held quartz duck just by wing.

7. Gill Sans: Vamp fox held quartz duck just by wing.

Humanist Sans Serif, because it has asymetrical curves, open apetures, spread finials

8. Classic Grotesque: DJs flock by when MTV ax quiz prog.

8. Classic Grotesque: DJs flock by when MTV ax quiz prog.

Grotesque Sans Serif, because it has even, symetrical curves

9. Eagle light: Brick quiz whangs jumpy veldt fox.

9. Eagle light: Brick quiz whangs jumpy veldt fox.

Geometric Sans Serif, because it is based on geometric shapes

10. Rosewood: Fickle bog dwarves jinx empathy quiz.

10. Rosewood: Fickle bog dwarves jinx empathy quiz.

Display & Decorative, because it is whimsical and ornamented, and only legible at large sizes

11. Helvetica: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

11. Helvetica: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

Grotesque Sans Serif, because it has even, symetrical curves

12. cottonwood:

Big fjords vex quick waltz nymph.

12. cottonwood:

Big fjords vex quick waltz nymph.

Display & Decorative, because it is whimsical and ornamented, and only legible at large sizes

13. Bell: Two driven jocks help fax my big quiz.

13. Bell: Two driven jocks help fax my big quiz.

Transitional serif, because it has vertical stress and bracketed serifs

14. Village: Fickle jinx bog dwarves spy math quiz.

14. Village: Fickle jinx bog dwarves spy math quiz.

Old Style, because it has diagonal stress and bracketed serifs

15. Mrs. Eaves: Bawds jog, flick quartz, vex nymph.

15. Mrs. Eaves: Bawds jog, flick quartz, vex nymph.

Transitional serif, because it has vertical stress and bracketed serifs

Classify typefaces 16–30 on your own.(classification worksheet 2)