We're counting down the 100 greatest typefaces in existence. Here we present number 98...
FontShop AG, the renowned type foundry, conducted a survey based on historical relevance, sales at FontShop.com, and aesthetic quality. With a few additions from the experts at Creative Bloq and Computer Arts magazine, the best fonts ever were selected for the new book, 100 Best Typefaces Ever.
Here we are counting down the 100 greatest fonts, but you can read interviews with some of the typefaces' creators, a brief history of type, the anatomy of a font, and much, much more in the book – find out how to get your copy in print or digital formats at the foot of this post.
But without further ado, here's the 98th best typeface ever...
A typeface commissioned by Google, Open Sans was designed by Steve Matteson, Type Director of Ascender Corp in 2011. According to Google, Open Sans is a humanist typeface, designed with an upright stress, open forms and a neutral, yet friendly appearance.
The typeface was optimised for print, web, and mobile interfaces, and has excellent legibility characteristics in its letterforms. Even though the font is free, it's great for web and mobile usage – being extremely legible at all sizes and friendly in appearance. See it in use at the likes of Virgin.com and design blog The Fox is Black.
Open Sans is a superb free font. Here it has been put to excellent use in the body text and information blocks of the homepage of The Fox is Black (www.thefoxisblack.com). Open Sans is complemented here by headers set in Univers
The 100 Best Typefaces Ever
This is an extract from The 100 Best Typefaces Ever, the definitive guide to the greatest fonts ever created, in association with FontShop AG. Over 180 premium pages, the book dissects the world's greatest typefaces, bringing you some insightful background on each and interviews with their creators.
You can pick up the book at all good newsagents today or order it online. Or you can download a digital edition directly to your iPad from the Computer Arts app on iTunes.
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Rob is editorial, graphic design and publishing lead at Transport for London. He previously worked at Future Publishing over the course of several years, where he launched digital art magazine, ImagineFX; and edited graphic design magazine Computer Arts, as well as the Computer Arts Projects series, and was also editor of technology magazine, T3.
