sans serif combinations.

laurenj
25.Apr.2008 9.05pm
laurenj's picture

just wondering if anyone has suggestions for a really nice sans serif pairing. they are going to be used in my portfolio for my junior review, and my combination now doesn’t feel right.. (gotham/universe). im trying to avoid futura and century gothic just because of their common appearance in my work. and no helvetica...



typerror
25.Apr.2008 9.30pm
typerror's picture

Why do they both have to be SANS.

Think CONTRAST!

Michael


laurenj
25.Apr.2008 9.45pm
laurenj's picture

cause i want them to be. im not really looking contrast, i want something subtle but beautiful. the work is going to speak for itself.


typerror
25.Apr.2008 10.27pm
typerror's picture

O’tay
Contrast is what brings interest to a design! Even if it is a placard.

Look for two Sans with similar interior shapes. That should downplay the boredom. But play with color, weight, texture, harmony and movement!

Sorry but I thought maybe you were open to suggestion as opposed to what you think the teacher expects or what has been jammed down your throat. If SANS is the end all then I am way too far gone. Serif, on its face, is not a riot! Especially if it is gently paired with a Sans. See Bringhurst!

Duh da ta duh duh ta duh da duh da duh da, God save the serif! And its ability to make the Sans sparkle.

Thirty years is enough. I am going into the recycling business.

Serifs for a tuppence (sp.)

More please!


David R
26.Apr.2008 12.09am
David R's picture

Hey,

everyone is right: pairing two sans is not really subtle, most of the time, its just plain wrong. the best you can do is pairing two styles from the same sans type: gotham thin with gotham ultra black, helvetica narrow with helvetica neue light extended... otherwise, duh, dunno. maybe a humanistic sans for the text (gill sans, cronos, bliss...) and a large, capital sans for the titles, such as gotham or houschka or... well, really, it doesnt sound like a good idea.

dr


SuperUltraFabulous
26.Apr.2008 12.16am
SuperUltraFabulous's picture

you need contrast

trust us on this one

:0)


poms
26.Apr.2008 5.30am
poms's picture

You can try this, if you still want to avoid the sans/serif combination

combine “male” with “female”
http://www.psyops.com/html/spec_reykjavik1.html
http://www.psyops.com/html/spec_reykjavik2.html

try “normal” with “techy”
http://www.fontshop.com/search/?q=neo+sans&x=0&y=0
http://www.fontshop.com/search/?q=neo+tech&x=0&y=0

or test “a style of a decade with another” like the Chalet “system”
http://www.fontshop.com/search/?q=chalet+&x=0&y=0


Nick Shinn
26.Apr.2008 8.42am
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There are enough variables in typography to allow any two typefaces to be mixed.


laurenj
26.Apr.2008 1.20pm
laurenj's picture

ok then... i mean im open for anything honestly at this point. im going for a 1970s feel actualy... if anyone has a suggestion about that let me know


typerror
26.Apr.2008 2.47pm
typerror's picture

It is pricey but you may want to consider Palatino Sans. Graceful, elegant, very diverse.

Michael


eeblet
26.Apr.2008 3.54pm
eeblet's picture

1970s feel, and two sans serifs? Wow, I have no idea where to start on that... Sorry!

—-
eeblet.com


Nick Shinn
27.Apr.2008 10.59am
Nick Shinn's picture

1970s feel, and two sans serifs

Or three or four or five...


Adam Union
27.Apr.2008 6.40pm
Adam Union's picture

How about Chaparral and Myriad for headline/text? Chaparral feels sortof sans-serifey...


James Puckett
27.Apr.2008 7.02pm
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The trick to mixing sans faces is to make sure that the audience thinks you’re a smart designer using two good and distinct typefaces and not one crappy free typeface that doesn’t match across fonts. For example, Gotham and Univers could work provided that you were mixing the wider weights of one with the condensed weights of the other. Or as Nick has pointed out, go bonkers and get the “I can’t afford type so I cut it out of magazines” look.


Mark Simonson
27.Apr.2008 7.38pm
Mark Simonson's picture

One way to do it that works is to use them at different sizes—one for text, one for headlines, for example. This is a just another way of introducing contrast (which, as others have pointed out, is a good thing).


T.
27.Apr.2008 11.18pm
T.'s picture

A10 uses Strada for text and Helvetica for headers; it works really nice.