Mistral Body Copy

Introduction:

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.


History:

Mistral was produced in 1953 by Roger Excoffon, a designer who began to experiment with typography after being invited to his brother in law, Marcel Olives’ firm, Fonderie Olive. Excoffon was appointed as an artistic director and promptly began developing fonts for the company. Among these typefaces was Mistral, developed in the final years of metal typeface design. Using his own handwriting he created a script that was a breakthrough from other script fonts from 17th Century, due to its informal and everyday flavour. It was an achievement for him to create a handwritten script with flow and ease whilst using a type block and the manual composition of individual lead sorts. He managed to create the presses with the tail of each lowercase letter meeting the beginning of the next, forming the fluid script, which was unique compared to letter-pressing prior. This accomplishment attained him international success and keeps his work current today. Excoffon has remained a key figure in French typography throughout multiple generations with contrasting opinions of his work but an overall appreciation years later. The typeface easily adapted to newer manufacturing and distribution methods such as, photosetting, rubdowns and digital. Thus, the availability of the typeface allows it to be seen in the Media but also at home used on French garages, village hairdressers, restaurants and on the side of vans.

Anatomy:

Mistral is a script typeface. These letterforms can range from the informal handwriting evident in day to day life to an elegant cursive used for the most formal occasions. Scripts, alongside being categorised by informal and formal, can also be broken down by the means of the writing tool. For example, Mistral uses a brush form with rounded terminals, whereas, a pen leaves straight terminals. As technology advances scripts become more refined and the designer’s handwriting captured precisely and realistically.

Uses in the Media:

Mistral is also appropriate when used in a retro style as shown in this 1962 example of a book about ‘South Coast Pleasure Steamers’. The typeface seems friendly and simplistic against the illustrations of the steamers. This presents another example of the versatility of Mistral.

Mistral is present in a variety of places each with its own diverse method and meaning. One of the most common being on everyday businesses, most often associated with France. The typeface is present on restaurants, vans, in clothing stores and hairdressers to name a few. The typeface is used to create a French unique independent feel to each establishment, but to many designers this embodies a cliché overused image.

The typeface has also broken into Hollywood, being used in film posters for the films Drive in 2011 and Cuban Fury in 2014. Each use fuchsia pink to display the typeface creating an 80s and neon feel, popping of the dark blue backgrounds. In these uses, Mistral almost appears to be made specifically for the films instead of another repurposing of the typeface readily available to the public.

Notably another use of the typeface was in 1988 on the NWA ‘Straight Outta Compton album cover’. Their use of Mistral was purely through is uppercase form, using the detached handwritten characters. This method gives a completely removed impression from the lowercase script and is spoken with a harsher informal tone fitting the rap guise of the album.