Fonts pack more power than many people may realize. Typography can provoke psychological reactions that create a feeling of trustworthiness, friendliness or aspiration in the reader. But to understand exactly what we are talking about, we need to look at a few quick definitions from 99designs:
“Typefaces are the design or style of the letterforms; Fonts are the size or style version; Points are what most fonts are measured in.”
These three elements of a text can tell a rich story. So, let’s explore a few of them, starting with the Roman Empire:
- Trajan – In 1989, Carol Twombly created Trajan, the oldest known typeface still in use, for Adobe’s software. She based its design on Trajan’s Column, which depicts the Roman emperor’s achievements and his back-to-back wars against the Dacians. Different key scenes spiral up the pillar using carved images and Twombly used the writing atop the column as inspiration for the modern typeface.
Archaeologists believe that the column, while based on historical events, is an interpretation of the events rather than the whole truth. The Roman armies are shown only as a positive force for order, and not conquest. - Blackletter – Before the 12th century in Europe, writing was done solely by hand. But in 1439, Johannes Gutenberg started developing the first European printing Gutenberg’s is not the first movable type created—that distinction belongs to Bi Sheng’s printing system, developed in China around 1040 AD. But Gutenberg’s press sparked a print revolution. For the first time, the average person had access to typography. While books’ high cost made them inaccessible for many, items like pamphlets were much more affordable. This broadened information sharing in previously unthinkable ways. However, the sheer blackness of Blackletter made it challenging to read, leading to the creation of more legible Roman-type fonts.
- Latin Condensed – While this typeface may not be as well-known as Times New Roman, its footprint is all over late-1800s American newspapers. During Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidential campaign, the New York Times altered the font, creating a “skinny S” for the “Eisenhower Says” slogan. This was done to keep the headline on a single column line, creating a tighter, cleaner-looking headline.
- Comic Sans – This font is famous for being constantly maligned, albeit somewhat unfairly. Vincent Connare created Comic Sans in 1994 by using comics like Watchmen as the design template. Due to its initial overuse, many readers and designers have grown to despise the typeface, deriding it as divisive, unprofessional and child-like. However, I would argue that Comic Sans has merits when used in the proper context. When the typeface debuted, early computers could not display it correctly due to resolution and smoothing issues. But technology has caught up to Comic Sans. Now, Garamond, a typeface considered one of the best fonts by graphic designers, has a worse readability than Comic Sans. While computer resolution has vastly improved, internet websites still must design for every internet-connected device. Until all monitors, tablets, laptops, and phones have resolutions closer to physical paper, web designers should consider resolution when choosing typefaces.
Each font and typeface have its own cultural impact, lending to its importance in human history. Take a look at your own preferred font—you never know what story may be hidden behind the type.
For more information about fonts and reading, see these articles: