Most typefaces can be classified into one of four basic groups: those with serifs, those without serifs, scripts and decorative styles. But now, typographers and designers have devised various systems to more definitively categorise typefaces, some of these systems have sub-categories. While four categories are clearly inadequate for design professionals, dozens become self-defeating.
Humanist
The Humanist classification has a varying stroke thickness deriving from the broad-edge oblique pen used for calligraphy. Humanistic typefaces also closely match the design characteristics and proportions of serif types, often with a strong calligraphic influence.
Examples include;
- Schneider
- Verona
- Centaur
- Kennerley
Old Style
The Old Face typeface have a broad pen like strokes giving a greater contrast in stroke weight than the Humanist typefaces. This classification is also known as Old Face.
Examples include;
- Bembo
- Calson
- Dante
- Garamond
- Palentino
Script
Script typefaces are based on calligraphic forms. Many characters have strokes that join them to other letters.
Examples include;
- Palace Script
- Kuenstler
- Mistral
Transitional
Typefaces classified in this group have a nearly vertical axis and high stroke contrast.
Examples include;
- Baskerville
- Bulmer
- Century
Modern
Modern typefaces (Also known as Didone) have strong thick thin contrast, vertical stress, fine serifs.
Examples include;
- Bell
- Bodoni
- Walbaum
Slab Serif
This category of typeface is easy to distinguish it has even stroke weights and heavy serifs.
Examples include;
- Clarendon
- Memphis
- Rockwell
Sans Serif
This Typeface (also known as Gothic) have (almost) even stroke weights and are without serifs
Examples Include;
- Gill Sans
- Frutiger
- Futura
- Helvetica
Decorative
This is the largest category and also the most diverse. Rarely used for lengthy blocks of text, decorative typefaces are popular for signage, headlines and similar situations were a strong typographic statement is desired. They frequently reflect an aspect of culture such as tattoos or graffiti or evoke a particular state of mind, time period or theme. Some decorative typefaces use unorthodox letter shapes and proportions to achieve distinctive and dramatic results. Some even appear three-dimensional.
Type Styles
Different type styles are originally used to place emphasis on particular words, phrases and titles etc giving flexibility and enabling a hierarchy to be distinguished. Below i have listed variations of each term so that they cannot be confused.
- Italic – Oblique
- Extended – Expanded
- Semi-Bold – Demi-Bold
- Condensed – Compact – Compressed
- Bold – Medium
- Book – (This term is used when letterforms are slightly lighter than roman)
Final Major Project 