Chosen Typeface Initial Research

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After receiving the brief, I began working on my initial research and deciding on the four typefaces I'd like to display. After looking briefly at their history and uses in the industry, I chose Baskerville as my serif, Gill Sans as my sans serif, Mistral as my script and American Typewriter as my display/decorative choice. From here I completed more comprehensive research looking further into their history, usage throughout their lifetimes and the anatomy of their characters:

Baskerville Summary:
Baskerville is a transitional typeface developed in the early age of typography. It is known for its high contrast forms and finer serifs, with both positive and negative responses, garnering it a controversial type at the time of release. Designed by John Baskerville, it embodies his desire for proportion and a softer yet geometric edge. It is most commonly used as body copy for its larger x-height and higher readability, noticeably on the Kindle Paper white and in literature including The Holy Bible, James Joyce’s Ulysees and Milton’s Paradise lost. But is also a strong competitor in display types also seen in Hollywood and logo designs. The type remains as a popular book face with its suitability anchored in its legibility and beauty giving any work an air of elegance and debonair.




Gill Sans Summary:
Gill Sans is a quintessentially British typeface, which some consider as the Helvetica of England. It is a humanist typeface designed by Eric Gill, modelled after his mentor’s work, Johnston Sans. The typeface is recognised from its rounded letters, lack of modular strokes and binocular shaped ‘g’. Due to the large and varied type family, the typeface is very legible in both text and display work, with its uses in the media ranging from Penguin Books, BBC to the oversized Toy Story title. Gill Sans is recognised as a friendly typeface and can be seen everywhere, always read with a British accent.




Mistral Summary:
Mistral is a script typeface developed in 1953, recognised for its informal flow and handwritten feel. The design was modelled after its creator, Roger Excoffon’s own writing. Though carrying age, Mistral managed to convert well to the modern techniques of Type manufacture and distribution, becoming a type that spans generations. The design is truly versatile being seen in everyday restaurant and business signage to film and television. Script typefaces are now one of the fastest growing factions of the type market with new technology aiding with their creation. Mistral manages to stay relevant and is recognised as one of the biggest accomplishments of its time.





American Typewriter Summary:
American Typewriter, released in 1974, is a Grotesque Slab Serif typeface. It embodies the nostalgia and flavour of original typewriters with the finesse of modern digital typefaces. Designed by Joel Kaden and Tony Stan, they replace the traditional monospaced characters born from the limitations of typewriters and the movement of the carriage, to a proportional modern interpretation. The typeface is most recognisable for being the symbol of New York souvenirs but can be used whenever seeking to evoke the classic typewriter type.





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