- Gotham (typeface)
Infobox font
name = Gotham
style =Sans-serif
classifications = Geometric sans-serif
releasedate =2000
creator =Tobias Frere-Jones
foundry =Hoefler & Frere-Jones
variations = Gotham Rounded,Gotham Condensed|Gotham is a family of geometric
sans serif typefaces designed by American type designerTobias Frere-Jones in 2000. Gotham's letterforms are inspired by a form of architecturalsignage that achieved popularity in the mid-twentieth century , and are especially popular throughoutNew York City . (Frere-Jones credits the sign on the Eighth Avenue facade of New York City'sPort Authority Bus Terminal , an especially clear example of this style, as an artifact which inspired the Gotham project.)Gotham is characterized by unmannered geometric forms, and a generous
x-height that makes it exceptionally readable at small sizes. Unlike the signs on which it was based, the Gotham family contains a number of different weights and widths, as well as italics. It has been a popular typeface for both publishing and advertising, and has returned full circle to its architectural roots: onJuly 4, 2004 , it was unveiled on the cornerstone of the newFreedom Tower , to be built on the site of the formerWorld Trade Center .Yahoo also uses this font, but not as liberally as wanted.The Barack Obama presidential campaign for the 2008 election made consistent use of Gotham. Graphic designer
Brian Collins praised the choice as a good one for promoting the campaign's "Change" theme. [cite web |url=http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/to-the-letter-born/?em&ex=1207454400&en=fc018196e1792388&ei=5087%0A |title=To the Letter Born |date=April 2 ,2008 |author=Steven Heller |publisher=New York Times Blog |accessdate=2008-08-25]References
* [http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100008 Gotham] , Hoefler & Frere-Jones.
Further reading
*Friedl, Frederich, Nicholas Ott and Bernard Stein. "Typography: An Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Through History." Black Dog & Leventhal: 1998. ISBN 1-57912-023-7.
*Macmillan, Neil. "An A–Z of Type Designers." Yale University Press: 2006. ISBN 0-300-11151-7.External links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow6ajKO0XsM] - An extra from the film "Helvetica" which discusses the invention of the font.
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