The best fonts you can't have...

SuperUltraFabulous · May 7, 2006

This topic was imported from the Typophile platform

Okay folks! Here are three of my favorites that you can't have. These are unreleased- and most likely, will never be released- fonts that rock my little typographic socks.

Volvo Sans... used on all Volvo controls and switches. Its like Handel Gothic only more swedish-er.

Bloomindales... This swanky typeface has been strutting its stuff while the folks who made Chalet were not even born yet. [And no, Horatio doesn't cut the mustard]

Lumene Script from Suomi... This is my favorite handwriting font ever! Perhaps when Lumene Cosmetics will change campaigns will then we have access to this genius face. Think of it as Emma Script with less caffeine. Plz Script is a significantly less refined alternative however the up-and-coming Suomi Script would be fascinating.

But good news in 2011 we get access to Dereon... a luscious scotch face and in 2008 Parisine Office from Porchez. :-)

Do you have exclusive fonts that you wish you could have... post images, names, and foundries.

Mikey

stoavio · May 8, 2006

Very cool thread. Too bad I have nothing to add yet. If something comes to mind I'll be sure to post it here.

pattyfab · May 8, 2006

http://www.guggenheim.org/

it's similar to FB Nobel which I can't have either because I can't afford it.

SuperUltraFabulous · May 9, 2006

Patty> I know what you mean... there are so many wonderful fonts out there begging for us to buy them. Our bank accounts will never match up with desire.

Your Guggenheim choice is telling as well. These institutions often commission excellent typefaces from the world's top designers [ much to our dismay ].

Mikey

hrant · May 9, 2006

What about a really good font you used to
be able to have but no longer can? Unica. :-(

hhp

SuperUltraFabulous · May 9, 2006

Hrant>

I don't remember Unica. Do you have a sample or a website? I would love to see it.

As far as the font I wish could have, but they don't sell it any more: Antikva Margaret.
Zoltan Nagy's organic tour de force. I hope someone [talented enough- too many lousy/sloppy remakes these days] decides to digitize this genius face... I'll be waiting too.

Mikey

thierry blancpain · May 9, 2006

http://www.typofonderie.com/alphabets/view/Dereon

SuperUltraFabulous · May 9, 2006

kesh> Dereon almost makes me want to take up fashion design so I can get a hold of it.

;-)

Mikey

elliot100 · May 9, 2006

The Bloomingdales face is just a 'topped and tailed' Avant Garde - went to Vignellis lecture in London last week. The rounded 'w' is differnt though.

SuperUltraFabulous · May 9, 2006

Elliot> This I did not know. Vignellis lecture?

timd · May 9, 2006

http://www.klingspor-museum.de/KlingsporKuenstler/Schriftdesigner/Guertl...

Haas Unica – very limited sample on page 2 of this pdf
and there have been typophile mentions, try the search (or google)
http://www.typophile.com/node/18387

Tim

>Vignellis lecture
D&AD President's lecture (www.dandad.org) couldn't go work too late

hrant · May 9, 2006

Mike, it's hard to come up with good samples of Unica, especially since its
relevance is subtle with respect to its two sources: Helvetica and Univers.

BTW, Massimo "What's a font for?" Vignelli bothers to use speech?!

hhp

elliot100 · May 9, 2006

Sorry that was maybe a little cryptic. I went to a lecture by the husband and wife team, Massimo and Lella Vignelli, who did the Bloomingdales identity (in 1972) among their wide range of projects over the last 40+ years; Massimo Vignelli described the Bloomingdales logo as a simply customised Avant Garde. (In general they tend to use unadorned, tried and trusted classic and modern typefaces for identity and logo treatments - see also American Airlines, NYC subway signage, Knoll logo etc but occcasionally customise - they did their own Bodoni for example)

hrant · May 9, 2006

I didn't think you were being cryptic.
I just think Vignelli doesn't adequately grasp communication.

hhp

elliot100 · May 9, 2006

I was just explaining my link between the logo and mention of a lecture to S U Fabulous.

Hrant, I do understand that typographers don't necessarily have a high opinion of M Vignelli - especially given his comments about there being too many fonts in the world, none he regards as useful produced in the last 30 years, etc. I can see how he could be acccused of not understanding, ignoring or even dismissing typography. Seems pretty good at communicating though.

fontplayer · May 9, 2006

Axis by Akira Kobayashi

jselig · May 9, 2006

I don't know if it was on here or another design forum, and correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Volvo Sans just a modified/renamed version of another font?

Also, if you work on Volvo stuff you get a copy of their Volvo family of fonts.

SuperUltraFabulous · May 9, 2006

hrant> Unica is very interesting. I like the fat counter to the lowercase 'a'.

Elliot> Thanks for the info on the Bloomingdales font. I did not know he made that. I actually thought that was Bengiaut's work.

FontPlayer> Axis can be yours for the low low price of just $1100. If you want to fork over that kind of cash, Akira himself, better autograph the cd for you.

Jselig> You might be referring to this post:

https://typography.guru/forums/topic/13875-forwarding

That post deals with Volvo Broad and some others. The font I love is the one actually used inside the cars. Its very different and still very much avant-garde.

Mikey ;-)

fontplayer · May 9, 2006

FontPlayer> Axis can be yours for the low low price of just $1100. If you want to fork over that kind of cash, Akira himself, better autograph the cd for you.

If he throws in an all expense paid trip to Japan to pick it up (you wouldn't want to send something that expensive through regular shipping channels), we've got a deal. After seeing some of Gia's reviews of Japan in another topic, I'm ready.
; )

K1RK · May 9, 2006

Alway's liked this, by Porchez Typofounderie. Dereon for Beyoncé fashion line, House of Dereon.

http://www.typofonderie.com/alphabets/view/Dereon

SuperUltraFabulous · May 10, 2006

K1RK> Yes! We love Beyonce's sexy voice. Now we love her sexy fonts too!

Mikey

SuperUltraFabulous · May 10, 2006

Another one guys...

Textaxis fonts- as of this moment- are still exclusively for the magazine Suite. In an email I received, they informed me: 'In the future we going to sell part of the Textaxis catalogue."
I respect the publications 'need' for exclusivity but part of me says 'ahh com'on guys, give the fonts'.

;-)

Mikey

PS... Textaxis's Suite family received a TDC award in 2002.

vinceconnare · May 10, 2006

started my own blog of motorized fonts.. thing you inspired

http://typophile.com/blog/7029

stw · May 10, 2006

I like the DB Type for the german railway company "Deutsche Bahn" by Erik Spiekermann

http://www.spiekermann.com/iblog/C61720386/E20051013130639/Media/DBType_...

Chris Keegan · May 10, 2006

Telenor, by Magnus Rakeng.
http://www.melkeveien.no/magnus-rakeng/telenor.html

The best fonts you can't have...

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