Univers AN INTRODUCTION
cap height x-height
baseline
Univers 1
2
3
[1]Squaring of rounded strokes [2]larger counters [3]slight stroke modulation[4]smaller x-height
Neo-Grotesque Sans-Serif
4
“The slight (but clearly visible) contrast in stroke weight, subtle angularity, and just the smallest hint of calligraphic brush stroke make Univers a typeface with a
”
twinkle in its eye.
— Allan Haley
In 1954, Adrian Frutiger (1928-), one of the most influential type designers of the present day, began designing Univers. He completed his design in 1957 for Deberny & Peignot. This sans-serif font is modeled from Günter Gerhard Lange’s typeface, Akzidenz-Grotesk. Akzidenz-Grotesk is one of the first sans-serif typefaces ever created-- many of it’s forms are inspired by previous serif typefaces. Univers is unique because of its vast range of weights and styles. Frutiger designed a system in which each style is assigned a two digit number. The first digit defines its weight, while the second defines its width and whether it is oblique. Today, the type family includes 44 variants. The variety that the Univers type family provides makes it ideal for use in a range of contexts, especially since it remains so consistent.
Aa Aa Aa Aa Aa Aa 57 Condensed
45 Light
55 Roman
55 Oblique
65 Bold
75 Black
Q
a
A H O U a h o u
B C D I J K P Q V W b c d i j k p q v w
tail of uppercase Q lies along baseline
E L R X e l r x
F G M N S T Y Z f g m n s t y z
many of the numbers’ acenders are straight
G
1 2 3 4 56 7 8 9 0 ! ?@ * $ % & ( ) . , : ‘ “ ”
uppercase G lacks spur
Once, books appealed to a few people, here, there, everywhere.
They could afford to be different. The world was roomy.
Univers 65 Bold 20/24 pt
But then the world got full of eyes and elbows and mouths.
Univers 57 Condensed Oblique 18/20 pt
Univers 57 Condensed 18/20 pt
Double, triple, quadruple population. Univers 85 Extra Black Oblique 20/22 pt
Films and radios, magazines, books levelled down to a sort of paste pudding norm, Univers 53 Extended 18/20 pt
do you follow me?� Univers 75 Black 24 pt
- Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 (1953)