Humanist Sans

ヒューマニスト・サンセリフ / 1916– / Style / Type Classification

Keeps the roman's skeleton and proportions without serifs — functional yet holding the hand's memory; the standard for public signage.

Roman proportions / Open apertures / Gentle stroke modulation / High legibility at small sizes

Humanist Sans — ジョンストン体のラウンデル（CC BY 2.0）Humanist Sans — ギル・サンの鉄道サイン（CC BY 2.0）Humanist Sans — ジョンストン『Writing & Illuminating, & Lettering』（CC BY 2.0）
ジョンストン体のラウンデル（CC BY 2.0） ／ ギル・サンの鉄道サイン（CC BY 2.0） ／ ジョンストン『Writing & Illuminating, & Lettering』（CC BY 2.0）

Dictionary entry

Best used for
Building sign systems for transit and public buildings · Choosing UI text that balances warmth and trust
Type
Observe the letters, signs and scale of reference works
Composition
Extract the one structure that governs gaze and information
Material
Verify the materials and behaviors specific to era, region and process
Caution
Don't reduce it to surface signs. Verify the context of era, region, technology and makers.
Further study
Edward Johnston / Eric Gill / Adrian Frutiger, Frutiger

Related entries

Source: V&A — Edward Johnston レタリング原図

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