Type Style Finder

Babies

Of course, because babies don’t read, typographic style in this category

involves communicating to adults about babies, more than to babies

directly. Typefaces that are simple in construction, with optically even

widths among characters and a minimum of detailing, communicate

the simple, pre-educated world of babies. Sans serifs, especially those

with large x-heights, rounded terminals, and slight modulation in their

strokes, allude to a baby’s softness; slightly extended sans serifs with

these qualities effect a slower cadence in reading, creating a calming

sensation. Some serif faces that have smaller, more rounded serifs and

larger x-heights—meaning open counters that feel bright and perky—

also feel appropriate in conveying a newborn quality in a type style.

Soft and tiny, inspiring the nurturing instinct, babies have fresh, new

minds waiting to learn about the world. Their newness and innocence

inform the type styles and color choices used to communicate about—

and with—newborns.

Program Cover

top, and detail, bottom

STIM Visual Communication

Timothy Samara

New York City USA

Age Groups

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P22 Platten Regular

Stylized Sans Serif | Medium

Weight | Erratic Width |

P22 Type Foundry

www.p22.com

[e-mail]

800.P22.5080

Slippy Black Italic

Sans Serif | Moderate Posture|

Slightly Extended |

T.26 Digital Type Foundry

www.t26.com

[e-mail]

888.T26.FONT

ITC Avant Garde Gothic

®

Sans Serif | Medium Weight |

Geometric Construction |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Critter

TM

Graphic | Black Weight |

Illustrative Inclusions |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Cronos

TM

Pro Bold

Sans Serif | Bold Weight |

Slight Contrast | Canted and

Rounded Terminals |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Frankfurter

TM

Medium

Sans Serif | Bold Weight |

Uniform Strokes | Rounded

Terminals |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Type Style Finder

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Age Groups Babies

Frankfurter

TM

Normal

Sans Serif | Black Weight |

Uniform Strokes | Rounded

Terminals |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Memphis

TM

Extra Bold

Slab Serif | Black Weight |

Slight Contrast |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Sassoon

®

Infant Regular

Sans Serif | Light Weight |

Uniform Strokes | Script Details|

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

ITC Stylus

TM

Sans Serif | Light Weight |

Soft Joints | Rounded Terminals

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

Stymie Medium

Slab Serif | Medium Weight |

Uniform Strokes |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

VAG Rounded Bold

Sans Serif | Bold Weight |

Uniform Strokes | Rounded

Terminals |

Linotype Library GmbH

www.linotype.com

[e-mail]

+49 (0) 6172 484.418

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Sample Color Combinations

Type Style Finder

Baby Color

The palette for design related to babies is split into two parts—

one for design work that will actually be used by babies, the other

for communicating to adults about babies. In the former palette

are saturated primaries and secondaries—red, yellow, blue, orange,

green, violet—that are as pure as possible help babies begin to

distinguish colors. Newborns and infants have still-developing optical

systems and are able to distinguish only very vivid colors that

are clearly unrelated. In communicating with adults about babies,

however, the color palette is soft, pale, and muted, conveying the

softness and freshness of babies. Pale pink and powder blue have

traditionally been reserved for girls and boys, respectively, but as

times change, a wider range of colors for both sexes is possible and

may be intermixed. Soft lavender, mauve, yellow, light green-blue,

sea foam or mint green, beige, taupe, and ivory are all part of the

soft palette that conveys the idea of babies.

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44 C

92 M

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24 C

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