Looking for suggestions for magazine body typeface

typehunter's picture

I'm been a magazine designer for 15 years, but never feel like I've gotten the body typeface right when desiging a new magazine. I'm about to start design a magazine for a small college, and I really want to get a body typeface that works this time and has a bit of style to it.

Not looking for anything radical, and it must be very readable, must have all the features of a good body font-available in several weights, well kerned, etc, but something with a little flair would be great.

This is a pretty small budget, so there isn't a ton to spend on a custom typeface or anything, but we enough to buy something new, and not have to rely on the old standby's that I have in my type library.

Would love to hear people's suggestions.

Thanks,

-J

Ratbaggy's picture

really depends on what the style, audience and voice of the publication is like.

Chris Keegan's picture

Bit of style, not radical, very readable, etc. Mercury may be a good choice:
http://www.typography.com/catalog/mercurytext/index.html

Chris Keegan's picture

The "Freight" family of typefaces could work well also:
http://www.fontshop.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=verity.search&searchstr=fre...

Ratbaggy's picture

Oooooer I like both of those suggestions.

**Ratbaggy adds them to his list**

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Solid Creative - Communication Design, Melbourne

J.Montalbano's picture

Take a look at our Alfon, its been used in several magazine projects by Hopkins/Baumann
and it has worked quite well.

Stefan H's picture

Delicato, Tarocco and Anziano all have some character. Take a look and see what you think?

http://www.macrhino.com

Anyway, good luck with your project.

copper's picture

i have been looking at this one myself, called Dolly

William Berkson's picture

I believe Hoefler & Frere-Jones and Fontbureau are the biggest suppliers of fonts to magazines in the US. It would be worth browsing through them to see what captures your fancy. Call them and talk to them as well; I'm sure they will give you interesting options.

BruceS63's picture

Today we are officially beginning the redesign process on a magazine. I am presenting Stefan’s Delicato and Anziano as body text contenders, and his Stalemate as a sans for the book. Take a good look at Delicato and Anziano—they are extremely well designed. Very readable and at the same time, elegant.

bokkah's picture

As a graphic designer of large publications, I can't suggest what sort of font is best in your case (hehe. no pun), but at least make sure it has a small caps :(. IE: it's a large family.

Maybe use a neo-slab serif for heads and any post modern large font family that is legible and readible at caption size too. (7-9 pts)

Ratbaggy's picture

just got this in my inbox, thought it might be helpful ...

http://www.fontshop.com/virtual/newsletters/jul2006_a/?utm_source=Jul200...

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Paul Ducco
Solid Creative

typehunter's picture

I really like Alfon. Read elsewhere that it was just used in the redesign of Body & Soul magazine. May go pick up a copy of that.

typehunter's picture

Just bought Body & Soul & the font doesn't seem to be Alfon, so I guess the above info isn't true.

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