OUGD601 Practical Design (Typefaces)

DESIGN

Typefaces:

Arial Black

I like the consistent, thick stroke width which makes it stand out as well as being easy to read.

Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk Bold

Similar to arial but with a thinner stroke and the 'G' has a spur on the end - clear - legible.

Archivo Black Regular

Slightly more condensed down than the other previous typefaces, bold, block type.

Cabin

Thin consistent stroke width, higher cap height gives the appearance of larger letterforms.

DIN Condensed Bold

Tall, skinny letterforms condensed but with a bold stroke width - I like the oval shape of the 'G' - more sinister due to condensed form.

Gill Sans - Semi Bold

Wide letterforms make the whole word a wider form - consistent - legible - clear.

Helvetica Bold

Bold stroke width - clear - 'R' slightly curved on the bottom leg not sure if it works as too styled.

Microsoft Sans Serif

Thin, consistent letterforms, professional sleek look - clear - easy to read.

PrimaSans BT Bold

Bold letterforms - consistent - clear tracking - legible.

The typefaces which I think are the most appropriate:

- Arial Black - Bold block lettering will capture attention - might not work as well for longer text.

- Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk Bold - higher cap height and slightly less bold than Arial Black which could make it more applicable for labels/signs with more text - 'G' spur also makes it seems grounded and commanding.

- Archivo Black Regular - similar style to Berthold but with a thick stroke width similar to Arial Black and more condensed/squashed down.

- PrimaSans BT Bold - Similar to Arial Black but with a slightly thinner stroke width and not as condensed, which make the letters appear bigger and more clearly.

I want to try out these 4 typefaces within a design to see which is the most appropriate. The main aim is to have a typeface that stands out, commands attention, and is clear and easy to read.

Mock-up design to test typefaces:

Arial Black

Berthold Akzidenz Grotesk Bold

Archivo Black Regular

PrimaSans BT Bold

After asking a couple of people which typeface they felt worked the best, Arial Black will be the typeface used. This is because the bold stroke width has more impact and a commanding tone. The letterforms are clear and consistent which allow it to be legible at different distances. Overall I think that Arial Black will do the best job at capturing people's attention.