This week, I discuss the typographic nuances of Dapifer from Darden Studio and Bely from TypeTogether. As a professional typeface designer, one of the things I enjoy the most is exploring how other typeface designers approached concepts. Both of these fonts in review today would be classified as Old-Style. Think of your Type 1 class and learning about Garamond. Both these fonts take unexpected mix-ups in their design solutions to the traditional Old-Style genre model.

Bely

In a shocking observation, Bely introduces Latin serifs only on the top quadrant of the design. Latin serifs mean triangle, unbracketed serifs that give an overall sharp tone to the design. Notice these Latin serifs compared to lightly bracket serifs on the bottom. The overall tone of sharp/ fang did impress itself onto me, but this local design decision did not catch my eye until this closer observation. This Jekyll and Hyde like the treatment of serifs didn’t stand out to me. Surprises like this are what I love about typeface design.

Dapifer

Looking at Dapifer, the /H in isolation would be a slab serif. Which is also surprising considering the overall project is meant to emulate the Old-Style model. The one hint that we can sense of Old-Style in this glyph is the width the letter.

Bely

Bely’s program appears to be the following; Triangle on the top sector, square on the bottom sector. Notice the Super Mario flag for a flag serif on Bely. Notice the sharpness of the transition between the joint to the shoulder.

Dapifer

Notice the toothy indented flag terminal in Dapifer. Instead of having a flat serif, the indentation hints to the origin of a flag serif. Notice the different approach to contrast in Dapifer. Dapifer is treating contrast more as a slab serif rather than the usual Old-Style treatment.

Dapifer

The biggest surprise is how this /c was designed. The model of an Old-Style was tossed out the window for this glyph. Notice the closed aperture; the 90° terminal endings; the overall width of the letter. All these decisions speak more of a sans serif than an Old-Style.

And yet, look at how weight is added and lost in the design. The top terminal is wider than the bottom terminal. The weight is pinched down from the bottom of the /c to the bottom terminal like it is mimicking calligraphy.

Bely

Bely continues the program of sharp on the top quadrant. The top terminal of the /c is a fang. Bely follows closer the Old-Style model with the narrower width overall and the open aperture.

Bely

The /s in Bely is designed with terminals that act like fangs as they do the ending of a stroke. Notice the exception to the usual program we have observed in Bely. The lower quadrant terminal is also a sharp fang-like design. Looking at the other glyphs, I would have predicted a flat/ squarish kind of terminal.

This is another example I’ve stated a previous Fontribute. The first rule of typeface design is to be consistent with the inner logic of the design. Except for the times when a variation is needed.

Dapifer

After looking at the /c, one would expect the same curved outlines are stopping at the 90° terminal endings. There are 90° terminal endings, but the curves in the /s don’t stay smooth on the outside. They stop abruptly and become flat strokes. The effect is the same dissident hiss created by the /n flag serif treatment. Dapifer’s /s breaks the logic of the design locally to be consistent globally.

Conclusion

As a practicing typeface designer, nothing excites me more than a design that shocks my assumptions and expectations. These fonts infuse a new kind of vitality in the Old-Style genre that many see as old-hat and boring.

If I could make a metaphor for how I feel about these two fonts: Imagine it’s a Northeastern winter. It’s cold; the wind is howling; you see your breath as you walk outside.

Bely

Bely is when you’re still outside. The wind is bitting at your nose and exposed skin. There’s a harshness from being outside in this weather. However, the scenery is beautiful, and you can appreciate the beauty in the harsh stillness. Belly is a good alternative to Garamond for projects that need a sharpness that Old-Styles tend to lack. I can see this font working well with other typefaces with Latin serifs.

Dapifer

Dapifer is you’ve made it inside your warm house. However, you’re still wearing your wet clothing, and you feel the throbbing pain of exposed skin now being exposed to warm air. You’re glad to be home in the warm, but at the current moment, there’s lingering discomfort. Dapifer is a good alternative to Garamond for projects that want the warmth of an old-style but would like a slightly dissident hiss in the background. I can also see this font working well when paired with geometric slabs or sans serifs.