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Is Unit Slab good with Gotham Narrow?
I was thinking of pairing Gotham Narrow and Unit Slabtogether for a magazine. Stylish but serious. I may also use them in print for a book that accompanies the magazine's branding.
Two questions:
1) Are these a good match?
2) If you had to pick a simple typeface (serif) for the book's body text, what would you choose?
Thanks!
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8 Feb 2011 — 5:53am
1. Yes
2. Unit Slab, with ample leading, expanded 10% horizontally. There is a prejudice against horizontal scaling, but the effect varies from type to type, and IMO a face such as Unit Slab is not adversely affected by it; let your eyes be the judge.
8 Feb 2011 — 8:39am
Interesting. Thanks for that! You think several hundred pages of Unit Slab would be ok?
8 Feb 2011 — 10:49am
After looking at it in smaller samples I see what you mean. I haven't done any full books before and wouldn't have thought of anything but a "typical" serif.
8 Feb 2011 — 9:13pm
You think several hundred pages of Unit Slab would be ok?
I don't know what kind of book you have in mind, or what kind of page layout.
I had assumed it would have a somewhat interesting design, being "a book that accompanies a magazine's branding".
9 Feb 2011 — 12:14am
Fair enough... I did imply that. :) It is a book that "shares" the magazine's branding, and true, it will have some unique layouts, but mostly it will be a standard "chapter book" type book.
Do you still think Unit would make a good choice? If not, any other thoughts/suggestions?
9 Feb 2011 — 12:23pm
I don't see why not, but why not work with it on a page and see for yourself?
After all, if you are already using it in the magazine, wouldn't you want to see if such a magazine choice could also be made to work in the accompanying book? Isn't that the challenge, to find a typeface that has such brand consistency across two (or more) genres, and presumably different paper stock, and yet still excels in each?
10 Feb 2011 — 6:35am
While I would never blindly accept anyone's advice (even a guru such as yourself), I do see and agree with your point. "Try and see" is the only real way to find out. I tend to obsess over this kind of thing, so input is a good way to choose an investigative path, even if it is not the ultimate decision.
Thanks again for your input!