Hello all –
I know there are lots of threads here on similar topics, but I think I'll try this anyway. I haven't posted here before, but I've found lots of great advise on these forums.
I'm designing a literary magazine, and we're in search of a bit of renewal. I've been designing it a few years, and since the beginning of 2007 we've been using Tribute for the titles, and Bembo Book for the text. We're not really dissatisfied with this, but Tribute has a few downsides. It's not really a display typeface, it's actually made to work well at rather small sizes. We are/were aware of this. But it's a typeface with a big, quirky personality, with lots of swashes, ligatures and extras. After two years, though, I've grown really tired of it, and I'm looking for a replacement, or replacements. The problem is that most of the typefaces I try look quite feeble next to this strange half-parody. Now, I'm not going to set the new typeface alongside the old, of course, but the new look shouldn't be weaker than the old.
Is there something out there as idiosyncratic and bizarre - and at the same time classic - as Tribute?
Maybe not. Maybe we should just try something completely different. But these specs remain:
- Should be a seriffed face
- Needs to work at large point sizes (30 - 120 or so)
- Should have both oldstyle and lining figures, and small caps
- Lots of ligatures and swashes and other interesting details don't hurt
For some other jobs I've been using typefaces with display cuts, like Warnock and Arno Pro, I really love both of them. But this magazine just needs something else. I am considering swiching from Bembo Book to Arno Pro for the text, though - that's another story, but I'm also open for suggestions on good workhorses for text, with interesting display companions.
Some more details: The magazine is Norwegian, it's called Vagant, and is one of about two leading literary magazines in the country. It has a combination of academic articles and literary texts, and illustrations by invited artists. Homepage The format is w210xh280, usually 130-160 pages, 4 issues pr year.
