Typography, that discipline that seems so simple, actually has a fascinating history dating back centuries. From the invention of the printing press to the rise of digital typefaces and their sleek modern designs, lettering has evolved impressively. They are typefaces with a history. Fonts that have influenced all kinds of products and platforms from books to mobile apps.
In this article I will discuss the most influential typefaces in history and how they have left us a legacy that continues to shape and be key to the design and creation of new typefaces.
A brief journey through the History of Typography
The history of typography is like an epic journey that blends art, technology and creativity, all in the form of letters. From the ancient Egyptians, who used hieroglyphs carved in stone to tell stories, to the sophisticated digital typefaces of today. Typography has been essential for humankind to express itself in writing.
But to understand how we arrived at the typefaces we use today, we need to go back a few centuries. We are talking about typefaces with a history that has come down to us. First we have to go back to the Romans, who, without knowing it, created the foundations of what would become modern typography. Roman letters, those elegant ones with the famous “serifs” (those little legs at the ends of the letters), were used for inscriptions on monuments and public buildings. Serifs are not only decorative, they also made the letters more legible when carved in stone. As the centuries passed, writing changed, but the essence of those early letters was always present.
Then came the Middle Ages, when monks in monasteries copied Latin books by hand, using careful and detailed calligraphy. Although the process was slow and costly, this was a key moment for the development of lettering styles, such as the famous “Gothic”. However, everything changed in the 15th century, with the invention of the movable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. This invention revolutionised everything: it made it possible to print books quickly and massively and therefore to distribute them, which brought with it an explosion of new typefaces and styles. From then on, typefaces developed, adapting to new technological needs and cultural changes.
In the 19th century, for example, with the industrial revolution, typefaces became even more diverse. It was then that the first “modern” fonts such as thin serifs or fonts with thicker and bolder shapes, such as the “slab serif” known as advertising poster fonts, emerged. With the advent of the 20th century and modern graphic design, “sans-serif” typefaces began to take centre stage because of their cleaner, more minimalist appearance. The rise of digitisation changed the rules of the game, allowing designers anywhere in the world to create fonts without the physical limitations of the printing press.
Nowadays, typography is everywhere: from advertisements on the street to apps on our phones. This allows, not only a wide diffusion, but also a huge community of typographers and a wide variety of typefaces within everyone’s reach. Each font has its own personality and conveys different emotions, so designers now take it very seriously to choose the right typeface for the job at hand.
As a curiosity, Trajan’s Column typeface is rarely used in graphic design today, but it is a historically important style. It is considered the oldest typeface in the world as its design comes from the carved letters on Trajan’s Column in Rome. Another typeface with a history could be Textura, based on Gothic script. A very popular style of lettering in medieval times, but with the advent of the printing press, due to its complexity, it ended up in the drawer. Even so, it was a great influence on other more modern typefaces such as Fraktur.
That said, let’s take a look at some of the most influential typefaces in our history that marked this evolution.
The 10 Most Influential Typefaces in History
Let us now look at a small selection of typefaces with a history of their own and why they have had such an influence on the design and development of modern typefaces.
1.- Garamond (1530)
Designed by Claude Garamond in the 16th century, this serif typeface is one of the pillars of classical typography. Its elegance and legibility have made this typeface a favourite for books and long texts. This typeface, still widely used, proves to be timeless, uniting tradition and modernity in every stroke. In 1984, Apple adopted it for the launch of its revolutionary Macintosh.
2.- Baskerville (1757)
It is one of the most refined and sophisticated fonts of its time, designed by John Baskerville. With a stark contrast between thick and thin strokes, the Baskerville font became a model for what a serious and elegant typeface should be. Its legacy can be seen in many modern fonts that strive for the same perfection. Although it was primarily intended for use in print, brands such as Harvard University and Penguin Books use it.
3.- Bodoni (1798)
Bodoni is known for its extremely sharp contrasts between thick and thin strokes. This typeface, created by Giambattista Bodoni, conveys an air of elegance and has been a benchmark in typography since its creation. Ideal for headlines and logos. Ideal for headlines and logos. Its influence on editorial design, luxury and fashion is undeniable. Some brands that have opted for this typeface are Emporio Armani, Zara or Vogue.
4.- Futura (1927)
Futura is a geometric typeface designed by Paul Renner that uses simple and pure shapes such as circles and straight lines, in accordance with the International Style trends of the time. Its modern aesthetic has made it a favourite of minimalist design and architecture. It was used, for example, in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey, giving it that futuristic look that is so striking. Louis Vuitton is also represented by this typeface.
5.- Gill Sans (1928)
It was created by the sculptor and designer Eric Gill, inspired by Edward Johnston’s typeface design for London Underground signage. It is a typeface characterised by its elegance and accessibility. Gill Sans has that friendly but professional touch, perfect for all kinds of brands that want to convey trust and approachability. The BBC and United Colours of Benetton still use variations of this typeface.
6.- Times New Roman (1931)
Created by Stanley Morrison when he challenged The Times of London on its poor design choices. The newspaper then asked him to create a better alternative himself. The result was an undeniably more legible typeface. Times New Roman is probably the most widely used typeface of all time. Its seriousness and clarity make it a favourite choice for many academic and professional documents.
7.- Rockwell (1934)
Rockwell is a slab serif typeface with a robust and solid character designed by Monotype Corporation. Perfect for large titles and signage. Its influence on commercial typography in the mid-20th century was enormous due to its strong and distinctive presence. It appears on the Docklands Light Railway from the 1980s to the 1990s, on Expo 86 signage, and in the Guinness Book of World Records.
8.- Helvetica (1957)
Mac Miedinger and Eduard Hoffman created at the Haas Type Foundry in Switzerland this sans serif typeface that revolutionised modern graphic design. Its neutral, clean look makes it perfect for almost any type of use, from logos to signage to websites. If you’ve ever thought that all typefaces look a bit alike, you’re probably looking at a version of Helvetica. An example of its use could be Nestlé, Toyota or American Airlines.
9.- Avenir (1988)
This is a sans-serif typeface that is very popular among designers and whose name in French means ‘future’. Its creator, the Swiss Adrian Frutiger, chose this name for its modern and geometric qualities. Similar to Futura but much more adaptable as it can perfectly be used as body text. Brands that have chosen it could be Snapchat or The Co-operative Group.
10.- Gotham (2000)
Tobias Frere-Jones designed this sans-serif typeface based on the lettering he observed in New York. The influence of the cityscape and design he encountered in the city inspired the creation of this typeface, one of the most widely used typefaces of the early 21st century. Gotham is one of the most recent geometric sans serif and sans serif typefaces that have had such a wide acceptance. This typeface can be found in brands such as Cartoon Network, Chanel, Spotify or in the famous Obama presidential campaign in 2008.
How does this legacy help us to design modern typefaces?
Although some of these historic typefaces are already considered “classics” and have been used ad nauseam, they should not be forgotten. They are the foundation on which today’s type designers build new and exciting typefaces. By studying these typefaces, we can learn from their proportions, their structure and the intentions behind their creation.
Many modern fonts, such as Garamond or Baskerville, base their forms on classic serif fonts to achieve an elegant yet legible aesthetic. Or the Bodoni or Didot typefaces that show us the importance of a good contrast between thick and thin strokes giving elegance to text headings.
On the other hand, the influence of sans serif typefaces has given rise to typefaces such as Helvetica or Arial that are still very much alive, especially when versatility and simplicity are sought in digital designs.
Modern typefaces are often based on the fundamental principles established by their predecessors, but with a contemporary twist, such as Futura or Avenir, which are based on geometric principles.
Conclusión.
The history of typography is a fascinating journey of evolution and adaptation. The typefaces of the past are still fundamental to modern design and their legacy is still very much present in most contemporary designs. If you look closely, you will understand not only how to create more attractive and legible fonts, but how to tell stories through lettering.
So the next time you choose a typeface, remember that you are carrying centuries of typographic history with you!
Hi, I’m Roberto Vidiella.
I am the founder and Creative Director of VIDI. I am passionate about graphic design, and through this blog, I try to deepen my knowledge and share what I have learned during my career. If you leave me a comment, you help me to keep learning and improving, and I’m really excited about it!