Univers is not suitable for body copy, but your choices are endless.

Have a look at CDs, computer games, and magazines targeted at teens. Most would not feature Univers.

Having said that, 12-17 year old males are as varied as any group. Good, attractive design should be your goal. (Although I'd probably steer clear of flowing calligraphy for this group.)

Aaron, to get a better feel for the type can you tell us a little about the content. Is it a science book, sports that sort of thing. I agree with John, lots of Univers is not suitable for text. There are alot of type designers here that will give you better choices.

I agree, Univers is a poor choice both because of readability as well as atmosphere - sorry. :-(
Something like Eidetic (which has a serif version called Neo and a sans called Modern) might be good.
http://www.psyops.com/html/specimens.html

hhp

If you're targeting 12-17 year olds, aim at the 15-17 year olds and the younger ones will follow. Univers probably isn't the best choice, particularly if it has to carry the weight of the booklet's image. It's not a great font for lengthy running copy, but it's not as though you're setting the thing in an illegible novelty font.

If you're set on Univers for the body, I'd definitely add some life with an interesting titling font. By the way, try out Univers 45 (light) for the body copy. With the right handling, I prefer it over 55 (regular). Without specifics on the content, I can't get more specific on the fonts.

thanks to all those whom have replied - i appreciate your expertise - very much.

And just to answer the question about the body copy - well its about nutrition etc - its designed for sporting kidds between 12 - 17, like i saud earlier.

Well with all that was said - i think its back to the drawing board - i did not know that univers was such a poor type - its such a large family and is often talked about in the design / typography books.

Its interesting - thanks again

There's nothing wrong with Univers per se, it's just that it might be a little too corporate/clean for this audience.

But if the booklet isn't too copy heavy (2-3 paragraphs per page), you could get away with Univers for body copy, pairing it with (as others have suggested) a more expressive headline face.

You certainly wouldn't be the first to use Univers as a text face. Take a look at Wired magazine, which uses the regular and condensed versions for most of its body copy.

In saying that i have been thinking of using either a house industries font OR Dogma, which you guys would know is an Emigre font - my feeling is that they are very expressive kinds of typefaces so thought they would be a break from the univers (condensed ) that i am using...

what are you thoughts on those typefaces ?

Have i just broken every rule in the design / type manul -

thanks for all the advice i really have appreciated it

The following fonts are from small, independent designers and foundries, yet the quality is first class. Beware of settling for Univers. Save it for the annual report (or not). All of the following collections offer fonts that are at least as hip as Emigre (more in my opinion) and have less exposure.

Trapper - The printed samples look great with all caps in display and text set at 7pt.
Chunkfeeder - Another interesting display text combo. It really comes into it's own in the 5pt text size.

Check out PSY/OPS for interesting options in text.
Mac Rhino has some fabulous stuff.
Peter Bruhn at Fountain. Awesome. Esp. Ketchupa + Mustardo + Mayo = Imbus package!
Nick Shinn's Panoptica

Finally, check out the relaunched PampaType. Top drawer fonts from Argentina. Rayuela might just be the ticket, must have the Chocolate!

Support the little guys!

>sporting kidds between 12 - 17,

Fenway?