Matthew Carter is one of the most prominent typeface designers in the world responsible for the omnipresent, Microsoft-commissioned fonts, Georgia and Verdana. He also designed a font for Yale University and called it, rather appropriately Yale. Carter was influenced by the style of the 15th century while also making it contemporary because of its wide usage, from student papers to official publications. He made sure that the font wasn’t too unusual but unique as well, capturing the spirit of the school. He did not want the letters to look like they belonged on “food packaging”  and yet had a stately feel.

Carter first designed the typeface in 2004 for the blue signs adorning all Yale buildings with readability being the most important criteria. This came about as a result of a 2000 report that identified signage as a weakness on Yale’s campus and an important factor of a welcoming campus. It was important that signs were subtle with a less is more credo. The blue of the signs, known as Yale Blue, was chosen to evoke a shade of the school’s traditional blue graduation robe.

Now, the Yale typeface is omnipresent, from business cards to Yale’s viewbook complete with a Yale Blue cover.

Tags: print design, typeface

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