Looking for the right typeface for hospital

RAULmv10 Oct 2010

It's my first time in this forum and I'd like to thank you all beforehand for your collaboration. I'm involved in an art commission project for a hospital that involves type. The design concept propose to use poems in the corridors of the emergency area. It's an environmental graphic design project and excuse me if I'm not in the right forum.

I have done some research to find a typeface that will suit the project. So far, the chosen font is PraxisEF Small Caps, which I believe, it works quite well. It looks quite formal yet friendly and not as industrial as, for instance Helvetica. We decided on Small Caps because they reduce visual noise as they don't have ascenders and descenders; it is very important to avoid visual noise as the hospital is a place for healing and calm.

We would appreciate some feedback regarding the font (we are still in process designing the layout) as we are still in time to choose a different typeface. Any suggestion will be welcome.

Thanks

(colours in the images appear quite different from the ones we'll be using)

This is more like it should look like regarding the colours and yes it is not the right excerpt of the poem I chose for the example sorry.

sim11 Oct 2010#

Take a closer look at my Migration Sans. You could find something quite formal yet friendly. Easy to read. With small caps. Let me know.
http://www.fontshop.com/search/?q=migration+sans&x=0&y=0

riccard011 Oct 2010#

colours in the images appear quite different from the ones we'll be using
We all hope so, especially since the hospital is a place for healing and calm ;-)

they don't have ascenders and descenders; it is very important to avoid visual noise
Don't confuse visual noise with visual rhythm.
Anyway, if this is the effect you would like to achieve, I would go with an all-(small)-caps setting.

Will Stanford11 Oct 2010#

I second the idea that a visual rhythm does not have to equate to visual noise.

Also, slightly off topic, i am struck by the morbid feel of the section you are using from 'sleep sweetly'.

Wil

RAULmv12 Oct 2010#

Thanks for your comments

@Sim Yeah, migration sans looks quite formal and friendly although I can't find a the small caps to try them (on screen) it might be that fontshop doesn't allow that feature or I can't find it. I'll be glad to hear any other suggestion similar to this one.

@Riccard0 Sorry I might not explain myself quite well. What I mean is that using small caps create blocks of text that could be easily place one on top of the other without descenders and ascenders touching. Glad to hear you would also go for an all small caps setting.

@Will I know I didn't choose the right excerpt of the poem for the sample ops. Totally agree rhythm doesn't equate noise.

RAULmv12 Oct 2010#

I change my initial post adding one more picture at the end with better colour.

I'll glad to hear any other suggestion for an small caps fonts. Praxis works well but it might be overused. Thanks.

Frode Bo Helland12 Oct 2010#

Many fonts designed for display have shorter ascenders and descenders, making it easier to set headlines tight.

RAULmv13 Oct 2010#

You're right and I must admit I didn't think about that. I will do some research anyway.

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