4 ms·

+1 for Univers! Honestly, it's right there in the names. Helvetica projects a very Swiss Modern feel to it. Sometimes that's what you want, sometimes it's not.

+1 for Univers! Honestly, it's right there in the names. Helvetica projects a very Swiss Modern feel to it. Sometimes that's what you want, sometimes it's not. Univers is the most neutral typeface around that's got any personality at all. (I've always felt Haas Unica and many of the modern sans faces, especially the "brand" ones, have so little character to them that they're just completely bland and uninteresting.) Univers just... is. It's Frutiger's best design, and that's saying something. Other favorites of mine include Trade Gothic (& friends) and Futura. I'm a huge fan of the 1930s-1970s "industrial" look, like you might find stamped on motor nameplates for heavy machinery, or the Apollo cockpits, or the IBM 360 consoles. These designs just scream _solid_ in a way that modern stuff... doesn't. (Maybe because it isn't.) (Tangent to a tangent: does anyone know what typeface HP used on their equipment in the '70s through '90s? It's a very close cousin to Univers, but not identical. Maybe something internal only? I don't think it's just an odd cut of any of the usual suspects either. This is another typeface that has always connoted reliability and stuff that Just Works to me.) Still, though, like you, I'd say Univers is my favorite more days than not. If I had to pick only one typeface, it'd be the one (more days than not)... just don't make me do that :)

neilpanchal 8y ago
You might want to reference a picture of the HP font and post it on What the Font [1] [1] https://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/ https://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/
- HenryBemis 8y ago
  I do have a copy of that HP font, it is very beautiful but cannot be used in anything as it 'screams HP' I have no idea though it I can share it without getting in trouble, no idea of the licencing status of that font.
  - neilpanchal 8y ago
    Could you please email it to me? I'd love to check it out.
    - HenryBemis 8y ago
      https://www.azfonts.net/families/hp-simplified.html https://www.azfonts.net/families/hp-simplified.html
Alex3917 8y ago
Univers makes me think of something like 2001: A Space Odyssey where computers are just running everything and they've long since figured out how to do it efficiently.
- TheOtherHobbes 8y ago
  That's mostly Microgramma, although its successor Eurostile has become a default for spaceship signage. Microgramma really hits the spot for a certain kind of 60s/70s retro-futurism.
chronogram 8y ago
If you like those fonts and have a Win10 installation somewhere, look for Bahnschrift. New variable type font that looks like DIN that’s included since some Windows 10 version.
Bluestrike2 8y ago
NASA listed its preferred typefaces for workstation panels in Section 9.5.3.1.14.1 of NASA-STD-3000, the Man-System Integration Standards.[0] Engraved lettering, in order of preference, was set in Futura Demibold, Gorton Normal, or Gorton Condensed. They're also listed on page 113 of the Databook for Human Factors Engineers Volume I Human Engineering Data,[1] along with other very interesting design guidelines. The Gorton typefaces were part of the MASTER COPY type templates[2][3] produced by George Gorton Machine Co. for its Pantograph engraving machines, and were commonly used for civilian and military aircraft panels produced from at least the late 40s onwards, possibly earlier (the linked catalog is from 1947). Since many of those contractors were heavily involved in Mercury and later Apollo, it makes sense that they used the same engraving machines and type. IBM also used Gorton when it started producing double shot keycaps for its keyboards in the 70s. There's also a modified version, Gorton Modified, that was created by Signature Plastics for keycaps that's still used today for SA profile caps. Unfortunately, the Gorton plotter fonts have never been revived for digital use despite their interesting history. 0. https://msis.jsc.nasa.gov/sections/section09.htm#_9.5_LABELING_AND https://msis.jsc.nasa.gov/sections/section09.htm#_9.5_LABELI... 1. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19710016468.pdf https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/197100... 2. http://luc.devroye.org/fonts-80708.html http://luc.devroye.org/fonts-80708.html 3. http://gorton-machine.org/forms/form_1309d/index.html http://gorton-machine.org/forms/form_1309d/index.html

neilpanchal 8y ago

You might want to reference a picture of the HP font and post it on What the Font [1] [1] https://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/ https://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/

HenryBemis 8y ago
I do have a copy of that HP font, it is very beautiful but cannot be used in anything as it 'screams HP' I have no idea though it I can share it without getting in trouble, no idea of the licencing status of that font.
- neilpanchal 8y ago
  Could you please email it to me? I'd love to check it out.
  - HenryBemis 8y ago
    https://www.azfonts.net/families/hp-simplified.html https://www.azfonts.net/families/hp-simplified.html

Alex3917 8y ago

Univers makes me think of something like 2001: A Space Odyssey where computers are just running everything and they've long since figured out how to do it efficiently.

TheOtherHobbes 8y ago
That's mostly Microgramma, although its successor Eurostile has become a default for spaceship signage. Microgramma really hits the spot for a certain kind of 60s/70s retro-futurism.

chronogram 8y ago

If you like those fonts and have a Win10 installation somewhere, look for Bahnschrift. New variable type font that looks like DIN that’s included since some Windows 10 version.

Bluestrike2 8y ago

NASA listed its preferred typefaces for workstation panels in Section 9.5.3.1.14.1 of NASA-STD-3000, the Man-System Integration Standards.[0] Engraved lettering, in order of preference, was set in Futura Demibold, Gorton Normal, or Gorton Condensed. They're also listed on page 113 of the Databook for Human Factors Engineers Volume I Human Engineering Data,[1] along with other very interesting design guidelines. The Gorton typefaces were part of the MASTER COPY type templates[2][3] produced by George Gorton Machine Co. for its Pantograph engraving machines, and were commonly used for civilian and military aircraft panels produced from at least the late 40s onwards, possibly earlier (the linked catalog is from 1947). Since many of those contractors were heavily involved in Mercury and later Apollo, it makes sense that they used the same engraving machines and type. IBM also used Gorton when it started producing double shot keycaps for its keyboards in the 70s. There's also a modified version, Gorton Modified, that was created by Signature Plastics for keycaps that's still used today for SA profile caps. Unfortunately, the Gorton plotter fonts have never been revived for digital use despite their interesting history. 0. https://msis.jsc.nasa.gov/sections/section09.htm#_9.5_LABELING_AND https://msis.jsc.nasa.gov/sections/section09.htm#_9.5_LABELI... 1. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19710016468.pdf https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/197100... 2. http://luc.devroye.org/fonts-80708.html http://luc.devroye.org/fonts-80708.html 3. http://gorton-machine.org/forms/form_1309d/index.html http://gorton-machine.org/forms/form_1309d/index.html