Fontology

You know you work with text too much when you see a commercial on TV or a billboard or an ad and you know the fonts they’re using. If you’re a writer at heart, the words are what matter. But in advertising you soon learn that font usage is about more than the words – text is another graphic element. Using fonts to convey the message can be as important as the words themselves in capturing the attention of your audience.

Interstate

The ubiquitous Interstate typeface is a relatively new font, 1990s vintage. It is a clean, san serif type with a wide spacing between letters and unique angle-cut ascending and descending strokes. I think what makes it so popular – think Southwest Airlines, Citibank, The Weather Channel and Army Strong (just to name a few) – is that the face works well in large formats and as body text or online. Whatever the reason, chances are you’ve seen it used before.

History of Interstate
Interstate is a digital typeface closely related to the signage alphabet drawn for the U.S. Federal Highway Administration in 1949. It was designed by Tobias Frere-Jones from 1993-1999.

December 16, 2011
By Paul B Womack | Comments (0)



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