Frutiger: An Analysis Of Adrian Frtiger, A Typeface
Overview
Frutiger is a humanist sans serif20 typeface named after its designer, Adrian Frutiger, who designed the typeface in 1975. During that time, the designer believed that the most popular sans serif typefaces such as Helvetica was becoming dated. Therefore, he sought a renewed approach to create a typeface of high legibility and distinctiveness even at a distance or at small text sizes. Initially for the signage at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Frutiger is perceived as warm, friendly and approachable. Type designer Erik Spiekermann named it as ‘the best general typeface ever’, while Steve Matteson described it as ‘the best choice for legibility in pretty much any situation’.
Analysis:
• Legibility
Counter: open and wide counters
X-heights: very high ratio (73%)
Width and weight: given wide separations between strokes, Frutiger is a wide sans serif typeface (X=93%) in order to be identified from a distance. The …show more content…
Offering a considerable x-height, Frutiger benefits from a large appearing size to optimize the readability online. • Aesthetics
Combined the rationality and cleanliness with organic proportions, Frutiger is deemed as a representation of humanist sans serif typefaces that adapts beautiful legibility and timeless elegance. The typeface offers a modern appearance, versatile functions, loose letter spacing and distinctive letter shapes. It is no surprise that both the creator and the typeface have been admitted into the pantheon of classic.
Terminals: with typographic versatility, Frutiger is closely related to the gentle curves of handwriting. The slightly crisper sense of the type design due to its terminals that are sheared nearly vertically and sharp. The overall treatment of curves is softer and fuller than in most industrial-style sans serif faces. Terminal strokes are cut on the diagonal which helps to give the face a less mechanical
Frutiger is a humanist sans serif20 typeface named after its designer, Adrian Frutiger, who designed the typeface in 1975. During that time, the designer believed that the most popular sans serif typefaces such as Helvetica was becoming dated. Therefore, he sought a renewed approach to create a typeface of high legibility and distinctiveness even at a distance or at small text sizes. Initially for the signage at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Frutiger is perceived as warm, friendly and approachable. Type designer Erik Spiekermann named it as ‘the best general typeface ever’, while Steve Matteson described it as ‘the best choice for legibility in pretty much any situation’.
Analysis:
• Legibility
Counter: open and wide counters
X-heights: very high ratio (73%)
Width and weight: given wide separations between strokes, Frutiger is a wide sans serif typeface (X=93%) in order to be identified from a distance. The …show more content…
Offering a considerable x-height, Frutiger benefits from a large appearing size to optimize the readability online. • Aesthetics
Combined the rationality and cleanliness with organic proportions, Frutiger is deemed as a representation of humanist sans serif typefaces that adapts beautiful legibility and timeless elegance. The typeface offers a modern appearance, versatile functions, loose letter spacing and distinctive letter shapes. It is no surprise that both the creator and the typeface have been admitted into the pantheon of classic.
Terminals: with typographic versatility, Frutiger is closely related to the gentle curves of handwriting. The slightly crisper sense of the type design due to its terminals that are sheared nearly vertically and sharp. The overall treatment of curves is softer and fuller than in most industrial-style sans serif faces. Terminal strokes are cut on the diagonal which helps to give the face a less mechanical