Recently we had a question about a similar set of angled initials that turned out to be Fedra Sans Display. My point is that the enduring popularity of the Avant Garde Gothic alternates has apparently inspired some modern designers to offer similar alternate characters. The Avant Garde alternate letters are about 38 years old, so if they are ’trendy’ then it’s proof of the cyclical nature of design tastes (and what happens when younger designers ’discover’ and appreciate the classic typeface designs).
It seems to me that any time I manage to id a font before anyone else, it’s Avant Garde 75 % of the time. I suppose it tells more about me than current trends.
avant garde is *super* trendy right now among younger designers who are still at the age where one feels the need to be a part of the zeitgeist. a lot of these folks are the same ones doing a lot of the eighties retro stuff that keeps popping up. it’ll go away once their kneejerk irony dies down.
Re: Avant Garde returning as trendy...in New York it’s the same phenomenon as with young architects who think office buildings from 1960 are so cool they should be revived, exactly as bland and crappy as ever, in midtown, so now we’re stuck with them all over—the new New York Times building, for instance. And I was here when those original buildings were new—ugh! Endless cyclical stupidity!
17.Feb.2008 4.39am
Avant Garde Gothic again.
17.Feb.2008 4.39am
Avant Garde
17.Feb.2008 5.30am
Is it trendy, or what’s going on?
17.Feb.2008 6.54am
Recently we had a question about a similar set of angled initials that turned out to be Fedra Sans Display. My point is that the enduring popularity of the Avant Garde Gothic alternates has apparently inspired some modern designers to offer similar alternate characters. The Avant Garde alternate letters are about 38 years old, so if they are ’trendy’ then it’s proof of the cyclical nature of design tastes (and what happens when younger designers ’discover’ and appreciate the classic typeface designs).
- Mike Yanega
17.Feb.2008 7.14am
Thanks, I didn’t know about the Fedra angle.
It seems to me that any time I manage to id a font before anyone else, it’s Avant Garde 75 % of the time. I suppose it tells more about me than current trends.
17.Feb.2008 9.40am
avant garde is *super* trendy right now among younger designers who are still at the age where one feels the need to be a part of the zeitgeist. a lot of these folks are the same ones doing a lot of the eighties retro stuff that keeps popping up. it’ll go away once their kneejerk irony dies down.
17.Feb.2008 9.45am
You’re being a bit harsh here – you’re absolutely right though :-)
17.Feb.2008 6.43pm
i know, sorry, this trend’s just getting really old and making me cranky. it’s all over the place in chicago.
19.Feb.2008 12.36am
Re: Avant Garde returning as trendy...in New York it’s the same phenomenon as with young architects who think office buildings from 1960 are so cool they should be revived, exactly as bland and crappy as ever, in midtown, so now we’re stuck with them all over—the new New York Times building, for instance. And I was here when those original buildings were new—ugh! Endless cyclical stupidity!
19.Feb.2008 1.00am
The main difference being the graphic design disappears relatively quickly, whereas a building... :^/
19.Feb.2008 9.16am
So true, Bald Condensed...I love your witty handle, by the way!