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History of Type

Author: mario fierro-hernandez
Video Transcript
Attributions
Terms to Know
Bauhaus

An art and craft movement begun at a school in Germany in the 1920s; emphasized the functional aspects of design and was characterized by the use of simple geometric shapes, sans-serif type, and a lack of adornment.

Blackletter 

A type classification developed in the 1400s and based on written manuscripts; characterized by elaborate, straight, angular strokes. Member type families include Fraktur and Rotunda.

Egyptian

A type classification developed in the early 1800s and named for a trend popularizing Egyptian antiques; characterized by rectangular or so called slab serifs and the use of strokes of even weight. Member type families include Clarendon and Rockwell.

Modern

A type classification developed in the late 1700s; characterized by a geometric quality, hairline thin serifs, and extreme contrast between thick and thin strokes. Member type families include Bodoni and Didot.

Old Style

A type classification developed in the 1400s and based on ancient Roman inscriptions and an early writing style. This style is characterized by low contrast between thick and thin strokes and distinctive numerals. Member type families include Garamond and Caslon.

Sans-Serif

A type classification developed in the early 1800s and later popularized by the Bauhaus movement; characterized by the absence of serifs and uniform thickness of stroke. Member type families include Helvetica and Futura.

Transitional

A type classification developed in the 1700s which evolved from Old Style; characterized by wider characters and greater contrast between thick and thin strokes than Old Style. Member type families include Baskerville and Bookman.