Meta Type Book

meta: Th e Handbook

meta is:

a practical, humanist, sans serif typeface designed by Erik Spiekermann in 1989.

origin: In 1984, the German State Post Office,

In 1989, after design software made creating

the Bundespost, was persuaded by Erik

new fonts more efficient, MetaDesign

Spiekermann of MetaDesign to commission

refined the Bundespost typeface for its own

a new, exclusive font for use on all of the

exclusive use, renaming it Meta. Initially,

Budespostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s printed material. The aim of the

Meta was just used for in-house projects,

project, which began in 1985, was to develop

but soon MetaDesign began to use it in mail-

a face that was easy to read in small sizes,

order catalogs for FontShop, a digital type

available in several weights, unmistakable as

foundry, confounded by Erik Spiekermann.

an identity, and technologically up-to-date.

FontShop encouraged the parent company

Although the font was digitized, tested, and

to license the face. Released as FF Meta,

approved in the summer of 1985, the project

it has become one of the most successful

was canceled. The Bundespost returned to

typefaces available from FonFont, a subsidiary

using one of its many previous typefaces,

of FontShop.

Helvetica, assuming that digital type would not catch on.

designer: Erik Spiekermann, born in 1947, calls

MetaDesign in 2000 to work on a new

himself an information architect. He is equally

project: The United Designers Network,

comfortable and prolific as a writer, graphic

a collaboration of many designers he has

and typeface designer, but type is always at

worked with over the years.

the epicenter of this communication dynamo.

When it comes to the design of typefaces,

In 1988, Spiekermann started FontShop,

Spiekermann sees himself as more of a

a digital typeface foundry and distributor

problem solver than an artist. His process

of fonts. Spiekermann currently holds a

for beginning a new typeface is simple and

professorship at the Academy of Arts in

straightforward. “Identify a problem—like

Bremen, is vice president of the German

space saving, bad paper, low resolution,

Design council, president of the International

on-screen use—then find typefaces that

Institute of Information Design, president

almost work but could be improved,” he

of the International Society of Typographic

explains. “Study them. Note the approaches

Designers and a board member of ATypI.

and failings. Sleep on it, then start sketching

He withdrew from the management of

without looking at anything else.”

Erik Spiekermann writer

designer

information architect curvy tail typographer

family: META ROMAN

META BOLD

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff

Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm

Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss

Tt Uu Vv Xx Yy Zz

0123456789;!?

META ROMAN ITALIC

META BOLD ITALIC

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff

Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm

Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss

Tt Uu Vv Xx Yy Zz

0123456789;!?

characteristics: upper case

As for the construction of the letterforms,

The K has one junction, and the junction of

Meta has capitals with flat apices, similar to

the M rests on the baseline, like Helvetica,

those of Helvetica. It has a wider opening in

except that Meta stems are oblique. The Q

the C, which also has angled finials. Angled

has a wavy tail and the leg of the R is slightly

finials also occur in the top strokes of the E,

curved. The junction and base of the W are

F, G, and on both ends of the S. The E has an

both flat.

extended base, while the base of the G has no spur and the J, no loop.

angled finials no loop

extended base

no spur

one junction slightly curved leg

curvy tail

lower case The Z has angled finials on both ends, unlike

The ascenders of the b, k, h, and l are

the lowercase z, which has an upright finial

slightly bent at the top, a feature that is

at the top and an angled one at the bottom.

carried through the stems of the m, n, p, q,

Several of Meta lowercase have particular

and the spur of the u. The finials of the v, w,

traits that distinguish the face from other

and y are slightly angled, unlike the Meta

sans serifs.

family capital letters.

flat vs. angled finials

Zz Vv b m u slightly bent ascenders, stems, and spurs

comparison: Other distinguishing features include the