Modern typefaces originated in the late 18th century and are characterized by extreme contrasts between thick and thin strokes, vertical stress, and fine, unbracketed serifs. The first modern typeface was Didot, created by Frenchman Firmin Didot in 1783. Other influential modern typefaces include Bodoni, created by Giambattista Bodoni in 1784, and styles created in the 19th century such as Modern No. 20, Fenice, and Filosofia. Modern typefaces are known for their abrupt serifs, high contrast, vertical axis, and small apertures compared to earlier transitional and old style serif typefaces like Caslon and Baskerville.
2. What is Modern typeface ?
In typographic design, modern identifies to the typefaces of
late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries with flat,
unbracketed serifs with extreme contrasts between their thick
and thin strokes.
3. History of Modern typeface
1783
The first Modern typeface which is also called “Didone“ is
attributed to Frenchman Firmin Didot.
1784
Giambattista Bodoni created “Bodoni“ taking
influence from Romains du roi and Baskerville type.
1806
Giambattista Bodoni exhibited 14 of his books at the Exhibition
of National Industry in Paris, where he was awarded
gold medals.
4. Bodoni’s Manuale Tipografico (1818)
It contains 142 roman typefaces and their corresponding
italics. The second volume includes numerous ornaments,
Arabic, Greek, Russian, and Tibetan types.
http://www.rarebookroom.org
5. What makes a Modern typeface Modern?
• Strong contrast between thick and thin strokes.
• Vertical axis.
• Mechanical appearance constructed rather than drawn.
• Fine, unbracketed, serifs.
Examples of typefaces:
Didot, Bauer Bodoni, Modern no. 20, Fenice, Filosofia.
8. Didot
designed by Firmin Didot in 1783
Foundry: Hoefler & Frere Jones // Release year: (1784-1811) 1991 //
Classification: Didone serif
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP
Q R ST UVW XY Z
abcdefghijklmnopqrst
uvwxyz
0123456789
9. Scalloped terminal
Retor
Very high contrast,
vertical stress
Teardrop terminal
leg extends laterally
from stem past width
of bowl, turns up
slightly at end
Large eye,
moderate aperture
10. Large dot, placed
far from body
quais
Heavy ball terminal
Moderate x-height,
long extender
Large bowl extends
beyond upper stroke
Long thin serif
without brackets
Upper stroke much shorter
than lower stroke
12. 10 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type, and how it
reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to
express idea(s).
12 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of
type, and how it reveals meaning—through the design of letters and
words, whose purpose is to express idea(s).
14 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual
communication of type, and how it reveals meaning—
through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is
to express idea(s).
18 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the
visual communication of type, and how it
reveals meaning—through the design of letters
and words, whose purpose is to express idea(s).
13. Bauer Bodoni
designed by (Giambattista Bodoni) Henrich Josh
Foundry: Bauer Type foundry, Naufville, Bitstream // Release year: (1790)1926 //
Classification: Didone serif
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRS
TUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
yz
0123456789
14. Ball terminals varies in
“g” and “a”
Regola
Full round bowls on “a”
and “g”
leg extends laterally
from stem past width
of bowl, turns up
slightly at end
Large eye,
moderate aperture
Very thin serif
without bracket
15. Some thin strokes have serifs
with slight bracketing
Dot placed very high above body
Stivo
Abrupt change from
thick to thin stroke
16. 10 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type, and how it
reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to
express idea(s).
12 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type, and how
it reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to
express idea(s).
14 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual
communication of type, and how it reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to express idea(s).
18 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual
communication of type, and how it reveals meaning—
through the design of letters and words, whose purpose
is to express idea(s).
17. Modern no. 20
designed by Edouard Benguiat
Release year: Mid-1900 // Classification: Didone serif
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQ
RSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvw
xyz
0123456789
20. 10 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type, and how it
reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to
express idea(s).
12 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type, and
how it reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to express idea(s).
14 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication
of type, and how it reveals meaning—through the design of letters
and words, whose purpose is to express idea(s).
18 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual
communication of type, and how it reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose
purpose is to express idea(s).
21. Fenice
designed by Aldo Novarese
Foundry: Bauer Type foundry, Naufville, Bitstream // Release year: 1977-80 //
Classification: Didone serif
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQR
STUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstu
vwxyz
0123456789
23. 10 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type, and how it
reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to
express idea(s).
12 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type,
and how it reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words,
whose purpose is to express idea(s).
14 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual
communication of type, and how it reveals meaning—through
the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to
express idea(s).
18 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the
visual communication of type, and how it reveals
meaning—through the design of letters and
words, whose purpose is to express idea(s).
24. Filosofia
designed by Zuzana Licko
Foundry: Emigre // Release year: 1996 // Classification: Didone serif
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU
VWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwx
yz
0123456789
25. Moderate sized eye
and aperture
Ball terminals rather
than serif
Reclassifying
O20
Prominent tail
Large bowl extends
beyond the instroke
Heavy ball terminal
in “c”, “a”, ‘“y”
Long unbracketed
serifs of moderate
height and soft
rounded ends
Large lower bowl
with relatively low
stroke contrast
No stroke contrast
26. 10 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type, and how it
reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to
express idea(s).
12 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual communication of type, and
how it reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose
is to express idea(s).
14 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the visual
communication of type, and how it reveals meaning—through the design of letters and words, whose purpose is to express idea(s).
18 pts
Typography is the art of the letterform, the
visual communication of type, and how it reveals
meaning—through the design of letters and words,
whose purpose is to express idea(s).
30. References
Modern Typography- an essay in critical history by Robin Kinross
The Elements of Typographic Style, page 130
The Typographic Revolution—Porchez Typofonderie
Stop Stealing Sheep & Find Out How Type Works, page 83
Exploring Typography by Tora Rabinowitz
http://typedia.com
http://www.thinkingwithtype.com