Serif and San Serif

I was instantly taken with Blackmoor as a Serif. It portrays a story through its unconventional serifs. It looks like a font with mystery behind it, like it is from a fantasy world from far away. It reminds me of text in a book of spells from Old England, or a “keep out” sign in front of a haunted house. If it were a car, it would be a black Beauford 1930 style Open Tourer, shiny and angular. If it were a music style, it would be Scottish music with a lute and a flute carrying a magnificent melody over grassy hills. If it were a type of clothing it would be chain mail; strong, unique, and there for a purpose.

For my San Serif, I chose Skia Regular. I just returned from Greece, and its combination of sharp edges and widely rounded curves reminds me of the signs I would see for taverna restaurants and shops. The laid back obtusely rounded curves represent the laid back life style of the Mediterranean, and the sharp angles are representative of the chiseled words on arches during the Roman occupation. If it were a car, it would be a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, sharp lines, with rounded wings, and the top down representing a carefree life style. If it were a type of music it would be a Greek folk music full of clarinets and sitars. If it were a clothing style, it would be a laid-back khaki pants, with a dress shirt with rolled up sleeves, a type of business casual, clean cut and nice, but relaxed and slightly playful.

Anatomy of Typeography

The characters of my first choice of typeface, Zapfino (a serif typeface), are flowing. It has a truly smooth, Zen look and feel to it. It's not gaudy, nor does it impose on itself. It has an air of class -makes a statement- without seeming overly pompous or self-appreciating. To me, it is like one of my favorite bands, The Weepies. It is smooth and soft, with a bit of an edge to it. A self-starter, Zapfino is in it for itself, with little concern for making an impact, except to touch the lives of those who find it appealing. There’s no doubt in my mind that the creator of this typeface was truly engineered specifically for its simple, yet alluring curves, lines, and angles; they give it an appearance of proper elegance.

The second typeface which I chose as my san-serif font, I’m unable to recall the name, as I’m typing this far from the computer which has the font installed. In any case, it is a shorter, thicker, much more conservative font. The lines it draws are hard, demanding, yet at the same time pleasant to the eye. This typeface is much more commanding of attention than Zapfino, its predecessor. It is comparable to a 2011 model Honda Accord. Clean lines with pointed, and rounded corners, flat ends and more square-shaped bowls cause this typeface to seem more conservative; It is quietly outspoken, powerful in its stony silence.

The image above is Zapfino in action.