Who doesn’t love an extra wide font. They are sophisticated, relaxed and most of all, an absolute dream to design with. They look gorgeous, nostalgic, and when put in a mix with a regular version of the same or other typeface, they instantly grab the viewers (or perhaps just my) attention. So here’s a short list of some sans-serif typefaces out that I love along with anything else I felt could fit into this post.
Starting with Termina designed by Mattox Shuler. This montage couldn’t describe the font better; a font made to travel. An unfussy typeface that is at the tamer end of the how-wide-can-you-go scale. Below it looks even more sophisticated in white lowercase. The light weight sends me to first class bed heaven and bold is instructional and comprehensive.
Well hello there monsieur. Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce soir? Take me to a 1960’s french cocktail bar NOW. This font is called Obviously and is designed by James Edmondson and even just seeing the diacritic é mark in action truly makes me wish it was a part of the English language. The ever so slight rolling at the ends of the letters in the super weight above (as the designer marks the inspiration, ‘when the vinyl starts peeling up on the sides [of signage], and the corners are the only bits that manage to remain adhered to the substrate), you can envision this on old shop signages that have spent countless years being burned by the sun. It’s nostalgic of holidays and leaves you dreaming of life before smartphones and the open opportunity of spontaneity leading you into the night. The other weights below, are a lot less obvious in their inspiration but nonetheless they are divine to enjoy and work with. Obviously.
Input is an online tech publication, and their logo works perfectly as a simple example of mixing with different weights. Plus their body font, Monument Extended designed by Mat Desjardins, is a brutalist dream and demands your attention.
Continuing on with the mix of weights; the below created by Bart Vollebregt for Studio Dumbar, is simply satisfying and the Easy Ease of the motion from one position to another, is a joyous dance and celebration of all weights!
The below work by James Coffman is slightly less expanded, but the analogue print effect of the type along with the soft corners is authentic, traditional, and familiar. Check out their instagram for more.
Finally, spotted in East London, this estate signage is a classic example of wide type and the quirky jumps in baseline add character and look wonderfully smart on black.