EXP
2.0

Typeface Combos

The following is a list of all the typefaces used together in this book. For each Exploration, the faces are listed in order of use.

Designing with two (or more) typefaces requires a bit of forethought and sensitivity. There is no shame in using one typeface at a time until you feel comfortable with the more complex task of using multiple fonts together. Although theoretically any two typefaces can be used together, it really depends on exactly how and why they are used; realistically, some faces just don’t look very good together.

The possibilities for combining typefaces are endless; however, the basic guideline is to select (1) a serif face and a sans serif face that (2) have similar shapes. One way to discover typefaces with similar shapes is to look for ones designed by the same designer or created during the same era.

Note that type set in two different typefaces in the same point size may not look like it is the same size. Sometimes this works to your advantage. Other times, you will want the two faces to look like they are the same size because they need to express the same hierarchy. To make two typefaces look like they are the same size, make their x-heights match by using them at two different point sizes.

If you see a combination here that you like, but you don’t have access to one or more of the typefaces, create a new combination by substituting one of the free or low-cost alternatives listed in the book.

Typeface Combos

The following is a list of all the typefaces used together in this book. For each Exploration, the faces are listed in order of use.

Designing with two (or more) typefaces requires a bit of forethought and sensitivity. There is no shame in using one typeface at a time until you feel comfortable with the more complex task of using multiple fonts together. Although theoretically any two typefaces can be used together, it really depends on exactly how and why they are used; realistically, some faces just don’t look very good together.

The possibilities for combining typefaces are endless; however, the basic guideline is to select (1) a serif face and a sans serif face that (2) have similar shapes. One way to discover typefaces with similar shapes is to look for ones designed by the same designer or created during the same era.

Note that type set in two different typefaces in the same point size may not look like it is the same size. Sometimes this works to your advantage. Other times, you will want the two faces to look like they are the same size because they need to express the same hierarchy. To make two typefaces look like they are the same size, make their x-heights match by using them at two different point sizes.

If you see a combination here that you like, but you don’t have access to one or more of the typefaces, create a new combination by substituting one of the free or low-cost alternatives listed in the book.

1.1
1.1
Exploration
FF Meta Normal
Colophon
FF Meta Serif Bold Italic
1.2
1.2
Exploration
ITC Mendoza Roman Book
Colophon
FF Scala Sans Regular
1.3
1.3
Exploration
PMN Caecilia 56 Italic
Colophon
Jeunesse Sans Regular
2.1
2.1
Exploration
ITC Officina Sans
Colophon
Chaparral Italic
2.2
2.2
Exploration
FF QType Condensed Book
Colophon
Kettler Bold
2.3
2.3
Exploration
FF BeoSans Hard R20
Colophon
FF Tisa Bold, FF Tisa Regular
2.4
2.4
Exploration
FF Engine Light Italic
Colophon
Cholla Unicase
2.5
2.5
Exploration
FF Tibere Regular
Colophon
FF Pullman Inline
3.1
3.1
Exploration
FF OCR-F Light
Colophon
FF Beadmap Inline
3.2
3.2
Exploration
Bell Centennial Address
Colophon
Cooper Black Italic
3.3
3.3
Exploration
FF Nuvo Medium
Colophon
FF Beowolf R20
4.1
4.1
Exploration
FF Tronic Regular, FF Folk
Colophon
News Gothic Bold
4.2
4.2
Exploration
FF Cube Light
Colophon
FF Dot Matrix Two Extended
4.3
4.3
Exploration
FF Zwo Semibold
Colophon
FF Tisa Bold Italic
4.4
4.4
Exploration
MVB Verdigris
Colophon
Ideal Sans Bold, Ideal Sans Medium
4.5
4.5
Exploration
FF Netto Regular
Colophon
Cholla Slab Bold, Cholla Slab Regular
5.1
5.1
Exploration
Memphis Light
Colophon
Avenir Next Heavy
5.2
5.2
Exploration
FF Prater Script, Base 9 Regular
Colophon
Base 12 Serif
5.3
5.3
Exploration
Neutraface Text Demi, Rufina Regular
Colophon
Rufina Bold Italic
5.4
5.4
Exploration
FF Enzo Medium Italic
Colophon
FF Page Serif Demibold Italic
5.5
5.5
Exploration
FF Roice Regular
Colophon
FF Daxline Bold, FF Daxline Regular
5.6
5.6
Exploration
Spartan Book Classified
Colophon
Suburban Bold
5.7
5.7
Exploration
Lingua, TXT101
Colophon
FF Container Regular
5.8
5.8
Exploration
FF Trixie Heavy
Colophon
FF Burokrat One
6.1
6.1
Exploration
Matrix Script Bold, FF Scala Sans Regular
Colophon
FF Scala Sans Italic
6.2
6.2
Exploration
FF Scala Jewel, FF Scala
Colophon
FF Scala Sans Italic
6.3
6.3
Exploration
FF Absara Regular
Colophon
FF Absara Sans Bold, FF Absara Sans Regular
6.4
6.4
Exploration
Cholla Unicase, Input Serif Condensed Regular
Colophon
FF Info Text Regular
6.5
6.5
Exploration
Sabbath Black Heavy, Adobe Jenson, Dalliance Flourishes
Colophon
FF Legato Regular
7.1
7.1
Exploration
Charlemagne Bold, Joanna Nova Italic
Colophon
Gill Sans Book
7.2
7.2
Exploration
FF Stealth Regular, FF Hydra Text Light
Colophon
FF Hydra Bold
7.3
7.3
Exploration
Goudy Text Regular, FF Parango Regular
Colophon
AW Conqueror Light
8.1
8.1
Exploration
FF Schulschrift B LinienEins, FF Profile Light
Colophon
FF Profile Bold
8.2
8.2
Exploration
FF Utility Black, FF Utility Light
Colophon
Foundry Flek Bold
8.3
8.3
Exploration
Tarzana Wide Bold Italic, Tarzana Wide Regular
Colophon
Cholla Slab Oblique
9.1
9.1
Exploration
FF Letter Gothic Text Light
Colophon
Oblong Regular
9.2
9.2
Exploration
Fournier Regular, Fournier Italic
Colophon
FF Nexus Sans Regular
9.3
9.3
Exploration
Avenir 95 Black, Avenir 95 Black Oblique, Avenir 55 Roman
Colophon
Bodoni Old Face Regular
9.4
9.4
Exploration
FF DIN Black, FF DIN Regular
Colophon
FF Container
9.5
9.5
Exploration
Lo-Res 12 Bold
Colophon
FF Cartonnage
10.1
10.1
Exploration
Perpetua Bold, Perpetua Italic, Perpetua Regular, P22 Victorian Ornaments One
Colophon
FF Milo Regular Italic
10.2
10.2
Exploration
FF Legato Demibold, FF Legato Light, FF Dingbats 2.0 Stars and Flowers
Colophon
FF Oneleigh Regular
10.3
10.3
Exploration
Centaur, Centaur Italic
Colophon
FF Absara Sans Thin
11.1
11.1
Exploration
Photina Ultra Bold, Photina Italic, Photina Regular, Maxime Ornaments
Colophon
FF Meta Small Caps
11.2
11.2
Exploration
Maiola Bold, Maiola Regular
Colophon
FF Quadraat Sans Italic
11.3
11.3
Exploration
FF Quadraat Bold, FF Quadraat Italic, FF Quadraat Regular
Colophon
FF Nuvo Regular
12.1
12.1
Exploration
Serifa 65 Bold, Serifa 45 Light, Linotype Univers Basic Bold
Colophon
Linotype Univers Basic Regular
12.2
12.2
Exploration
Le Corbusier Regular, Fakt Medium
Colophon
Fakt Semicondensed Semibold
12.3
12.3
Exploration
Eidetic Neo Omni, Eidetic Neo Regular, FF Fago Extra Bold
Colophon
FF Fago Medium
12.4
12.4
Exploration
FF Eureka Regular (small caps), FF Eureka Regular, FF Eureka Arrows
Colophon
FF Eureka Sans Regular
12.5
12.5
Exploration
Suomi Hand Script, FF Absara Sans Bold, FF Absara Sans Regular
Colophon
FF Absara Bold
13.1
13.1
Exploration
FF Sanuk Medium, FF Sanuk Light Italic
Colophon
FF Scala Bold
13.2
13.2
Exploration
Filosofia Italic, Filosofia Regular, FF Dingbats 2.0 Arrows, FF Zine Sans Bold
Colophon
FF Zine Sans Regular
13.3
13.3
Exploration
FF Fago Extra Bold, Chaparral Bold
Colophon
Chaparral Regular
13.4
13.4
Exploration
Officina Serif Bold, Officina Serif Bold Italic, Officina Serif Book
Colophon
Syntax
14.1
14.1
Exploration
FF Speak Regular, Democratica Regular
Colophon
FF Speak Bold
14.2
14.2
Exploration
Modula Round Ribbed, FF Zine Serif Medium, FF Zine Sans Regular
Colophon
FF Zine Slab Medium Italic
14.3
14.3
Exploration
Neue Helvetica Medium, New Clarendon Regular
Colophon
Neue Helvetica Heavy Condensed
14.4
14.4
Exploration
Myriad Regular, FF Atma Serif Book
Colophon
Matrix Script Bold
14.5
14.5
Exploration
FF Alega Normal, FF Alega Serif Normal
Colophon
FF Eboy Regular Beta
15.1
15.1
Exploration
FF Hertz, TXT101
Colophon
FF Eureka Sans Regular
15.2
15.2
Exploration
FF Archian Night, FF SubVario Dry
Colophon
FF SubVario Dry
15.3
15.3
Exploration
Bell Gothic Black, Bell Gothic Bold
Colophon
ITC New Baskerville Bold Small Caps
15.4
15.4
Exploration
ITC New Baskerville Roman, FF Dingbats 2.0 Stars and Flowers
Colophon
Bell Centennial Name & Number
16.1
16.1
Exploration
FF Antithesis Regular, FF Antithesis Italic, FF Antithesis Bold
Colophon
FF Hydra Bold
16.2
16.2
Exploration
Futura Black, FF Super Grotesk
Colophon
FF Super Grotesk Bold
16.3
16.3
Exploration
FF Magda Clean Mono Regular
Colophon
FF Hydra Medium
16.4
16.4
Exploration
Eskapade Fraktur Black, FF Quadraat Sans Italic
Colophon
Joanna Medium Italic
17.1
17.1
Exploration
Fluidum Bold, FF Clan Thin
Colophon
Adelle Regular
17.2
17.2
Exploration
FF Ticket Bold
Colophon
FF Gothic Min Condensed
17.3
17.3
Exploration
OCR-B Medium
Colophon
Prestige Elite Regular
18.1
18.1
Exploration
Doko Bold, Doko Book, Frutiger 55 Regular, Frutiger 56 Italic
Colophon
TXT101 Light, Doko Bold, Doko Book
18.2
18.2
Exploration
FF Meta Serif Book, FF Meta Serif Bold, FF Meta Black
Colophon
FF Meta Normal
18.3
18.3
Exploration
FF Kievit Bold, FF Kievit Italic, FF Kievit Regular
Colophon
FF Kievit Slab Bold, FF Kievit Slab Regular
18.4
18.4
Exploration
FF Nexus Sans Bold, FF Nexus Mix Regular
Colophon
FF Nexus Typewriter Regular
19.1
19.1
Exploration
FF ThreeSix Regular, FF ThreeSix Medium
Colophon
Audimat Bold Italic, Audimat Regular
19.2
19.2
Exploration
Sauna Small Caps, FF Clifford
Colophon
FF Clifford Italic
19.3
19.3
Exploration
Iwan Stencil, FF Strada Regular
Colophon
Cholla Slab Bold
19.4
19.4
Exploration
FF Dax Wide Black, FF Dax Bold, FF Dax Regular, FF Dax Condensed Light
Colophon
Platelet
20.1
20.1
Exploration
Ohm Bold, Locator Bold, Locator Regular
Colophon
Locator Bold, Locator Regular
20.2
20.2
Exploration
FF Typestar Black, FF Typestar Normal
Colophon
Brothers Regular
20.3
20.3
Exploration
FF Seria Sans Bold, FF Seria Regular
Colophon
Exocet
20.4
20.4
Exploration
FF Max Fat Italic, FF Max Extra Light, FF Max Regular
Colophon
FF Alega Serif Light
21.1
21.1
Exploration
Harriet Display Black, Harriet Text Light, Harriet Text Medium Italic
Colophon
Benton Sans Condensed Bold
21.2
21.2
Exploration
FF Cocon Regular, Sassoon Primary Regular
Colophon
Sassoon Primary Regular
21.3
21.3
Exploration
FF Plus Sans Extra Bold, Maxime Regular
Colophon
FF Plus Sans Extra Bold Italic
21.4
21.4
Exploration
FF Chambers Sans Black, FF Chambers Sans
Colophon
FF Chambers Sans Bold Italic, Folk Art Stitch
22.1
22.1
Exploration
TheMix Black, TheSans Plain, TheSans Bold
Colophon
TheSerif Plain
22.2
22.2
Exploration
FF Bau Regular
Colophon
Orator
22.3
22.3
Exploration
Klavika Bold, Klavika Regular, PMN Caecilia 86 Heavy Italic, FF Dingbats 2.0 Numbers
Colophon
PMN Caecilia 56 Italic
22.4
22.4
Exploration
FF Good Condensed Book
Colophon
Unibody 8 Small Caps
23.1
23.1
Exploration
FF Karbid Normal
Colophon
Base 12 Serif
23.2
23.2
Exploration
Interstate Regular
Colophon
Calvert Regular
23.3
23.3
Exploration
FF Balance Regular
Colophon
FF Celeste Bold Italic
23.4
23.4
Exploration
OCR-A
Colophon
Akkurat
23.5
23.5
Exploration
FF Celeste, FF Page Sans Demibold
Colophon
FF Page Sans Light
23.6
23.6
Exploration
FF Avance, FF Mister K
Colophon
FF Kievit Italic
24.1
24.1
Exploration
FF Cellini Bold, FF Cellini Regular
Colophon
FF Cst Berlin West
24.2
24.2
Exploration
Adobe Garamond Bold, Adobe Garamond Roman
Colophon
FF Scala Sans Regular
24.3
24.3
Exploration
Linotype Univers Bold Condensed, Linotype Univers Condensed, Linotype Univers Bold, Linotype Univers Light
Colophon
FF Fago Office Serif
24.4
24.4
Exploration
Monster, FF Milo Bold, FF Milo Text
Colophon
FF Avance Italic
24.5
24.5
Exploration
FF Franziska Demibold, FF Franziska Book, FF Franziska Book Italic
Colophon
Lato Black, Lato Regular
24.6
24.6
Exploration
FF Unit Bold, FF Unit Regular Italic, FF Unit Regular, FF Unit Light
Colophon
FF Unit Rounded
BOOK
25
Heads
Output Sans Black
Text
Output Sans Medium, Output Sans Medium Italic