Firstly developed as a single regular style to embody and carry the identity of Apex, Practical Grotesk slowly grew into a comprehensive family of 10 weights (from hairline to black) and their italic counterparts to provide graphic designers with a solid and versatile sans-serif workhorse. Drawing influence from the superstars of the last century (Akzidenz Grotesk, Folio, Neue Haas Grotesk…) as well as later, more “confidential” responses (Forma, Unica…), Practical Grotesk is an exercise in style, a love letter and a tribute to the legacy of Swiss typography. Investigating the rational simplicity of mid-twentieth century modernism, Practical Grotesk is Apex’s take on the neo-grotesque genre. As with every Apex typefaces, it is packed with numerous stylistic sets and alternates to provide typesetters with even more options to tweak the voice and feeling of any piece of text. Its tight letter-spacing contrasts with an otherwise quite extended overall letterform design, equipping Nicéphore with a special power to stand out from the crowd. The unsettling result is a striking display typeface with a monumental x-height, very short ascenders and descenders and unobtrusive diacritics, all specifically meant for tight line spacing and dense page texture. A perfect choice for nice rollover effects on the web, type animations… you name it! Nicéphore takes a very unconventional approach to width and weight distribution by not changing the former while increasing the later. The Nicéphore family is a variable font exploration of the “multiplexing” principle: each six styles are drawn on the same width, allowing you to change weight on the fly without disrupting the layout. Look again and you’ll probably notice its highly contrasted joints, its solid feeling and surprising letter shapes. Drawing influence and mood from phototypesetting era sans-serif fonts (notably Brasilia by Albert Hollenstein and Albert Boton, 1958-60), Nicéphore is a disguised quiet guy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |