Typeface: Avant Garde

Avant Garde

Identifying Characteristics

bowl of R doesn't close, but P does
curve on tail of cap Q
abbreviated descenders (esp. g)
low crossbar on G
rectangular dots over i and j

Designer/History

Herb Lubalin & Tom Carnase, ca. 1968, for Avant Garde magazine. The original face was all uppercase. I think this was the first ITC typeface.

Character and Use

A distinctive geometric display face, which Lubalin said should be set very tight. A good version comes with a number of unusual uppercase ligatures. The face retains some of the flavor of the late sixties/early seventies.

I have never had an opportunity to use this face, which is the logotype for Adidas.

Say what?

"This is a bicameral stick-and-ball sanserif with very large x-height."
-- Robert Bringhurst

"The world's most abused typeface."
-- Tony DiSpigna, a partner of Lubalin

"A collection of such extreme shapes causes fatigue at text sizes and cannot help but draw attention to itself, which is arguably the greatest sin a typeface can commit."
-- Alix W. White (see http://www.graphic-design.com/Type/Avant/Avant2.html)

"For use in extensive text the font's rigid, uniform strokes will create eye problems right away. Additionally, the perfect circles in the round characters begin to form light spots or 'holes' in the text that disturb the calm texture of columns of type."
-- "Fred," at above source

"The only place Avant Garde looks good is in the words Avant Garde."
-- Ed Benguiat


	Of Thomas Christensen, ABCedminded Typesetter

site home typehead home search sitemap blog daybook contact	Avant Garde Identifying Characteristics bowl of R doesn't close, but P does curve on tail of cap Q abbreviated descenders (esp. g) low crossbar on G rectangular dots over i and j Designer/History Herb Lubalin & Tom Carnase, ca. 1968, for Avant Garde magazine. The original face was all uppercase. I think this was the first ITC typeface. Character and Use A distinctive geometric display face, which Lubalin said should be set very tight. A good version comes with a number of unusual uppercase ligatures. The face retains some of the flavor of the late sixties/early seventies. I have never had an opportunity to use this face, which is the logotype for Adidas. Say what? "This is a bicameral stick-and-ball sanserif with very large x-height." -- Robert Bringhurst "The world's most abused typeface." -- Tony DiSpigna, a partner of Lubalin "A collection of such extreme shapes causes fatigue at text sizes and cannot help but draw attention to itself, which is arguably the greatest sin a typeface can commit." -- Alix W. White (see http://www.graphic-design.com/Type/Avant/Avant2.html) "For use in extensive text the font's rigid, uniform strokes will create eye problems right away. Additionally, the perfect circles in the round characters begin to form light spots or 'holes' in the text that disturb the calm texture of columns of type." -- "Fred," at above source "The only place Avant Garde looks good is in the words Avant Garde." -- Ed Benguiat	* * navigation identifiers history qualities quotes
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