Well, not really the promised land. Whitney is a much-overlooked font, and I like and use it pretty often. But it's personality tics can get in the way sometimes, while I don't find that to be true of Helvetica.
I worked a book layout project earlier this year for a production house--i.e., the design template was provided and all type choices had been made for me. I can honestly say that it was the first time in a dog's age that I saw a sans serif suitable for use in a book--display type, of course, not body text--that offered anything different than all the other sans.
Which brings me to another pet peeve--it seems three-quarters of all new types are sans serifs. Where are the new designers, the young ones with original ideas for serif faces?
I see what you're saying about it's personality ticks getting in the way at times, but I'm not sure that I agree with you. I think it's ticks are pretty subtle, and it's only through an effort of attention that those ticks are noticed. And, yes, you won't find those ticks in Helvetica, but that's the whole point - Helvetica's personality is that it has no personality; it's "the facts, mam, just the facts." That's all well and good - just ask Massimo Vignelli - but I like a little more personality in the faces I use. Not a ton of personality, but some.
Thanks Patrick for helping me to put the brakes on and take some time to really look at this face. Speaking of personality i LOVE that the b,d, p, and q are not just mirror images of each other!
Nice to know I'm not the only geeky designer having a typeface-moment in public. For now, my son is too young to be embarrassed and my husband is understanding. I was looking at the banners as we were approaching the museum on Muni. At first I thought it was Myriad, but when I got to the museum, I realized I'd have to do some more investigating. And I did. Beautiful work Hoefler & Frere-Jones. Elegant design Pentagram.
Whitney
Well, not really the promised land. Whitney is a much-overlooked font, and I like and use it pretty often. But it's personality tics can get in the way sometimes, while I don't find that to be true of Helvetica.
Using Whitney
I worked a book layout project earlier this year for a production house--i.e., the design template was provided and all type choices had been made for me. I can honestly say that it was the first time in a dog's age that I saw a sans serif suitable for use in a book--display type, of course, not body text--that offered anything different than all the other sans.
Which brings me to another pet peeve--it seems three-quarters of all new types are sans serifs. Where are the new designers, the young ones with original ideas for serif faces?
Whitney
I see what you're saying about it's personality ticks getting in the way at times, but I'm not sure that I agree with you. I think it's ticks are pretty subtle, and it's only through an effort of attention that those ticks are noticed. And, yes, you won't find those ticks in Helvetica, but that's the whole point - Helvetica's personality is that it has no personality; it's "the facts, mam, just the facts." That's all well and good - just ask Massimo Vignelli - but I like a little more personality in the faces I use. Not a ton of personality, but some.
Using Whitney
Yep, it's a pretty cool typeface. What was the subject matter of the book you produced? I'd be interested to know.
As far as serif typefaces, I dunno. Maybe there are some type designers out there that could shed some light on this.
Taking time to notice
Thanks Patrick for helping me to put the brakes on and take some time to really look at this face. Speaking of personality i LOVE that the b,d, p, and q are not just mirror images of each other!
Whitney
Delta Air Lines is using this typeface, courtesy of Lippincott, the design firm that did their corporate branding package.
I did the same thing!
Nice to know I'm not the only geeky designer having a typeface-moment in public. For now, my son is too young to be embarrassed and my husband is understanding. I was looking at the banners as we were approaching the museum on Muni. At first I thought it was Myriad, but when I got to the museum, I realized I'd have to do some more investigating. And I did. Beautiful work Hoefler & Frere-Jones. Elegant design Pentagram.