Loading AI tools
Geometric sans-serif typeface From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tempo is a 1930 sans-serif typeface designed by R. Hunter Middleton for the Ludlow Typograph company.[1] Tempo is a geometric sans-serif design, closely copying German typefaces in this style, above all Futura, which had attracted considerable attention in the United States. Unlike Futura, however, it has a "dynamic" true italic, with foot serifs suggesting handwriting and optional swash capitals.[2]
Tempo was expanded to a sprawling family released over the 1930s and 40s, that (as of 2020[update]) has not been fully digitised.[3] It included the shadow-form display typeface Umbra, which has often been released separately.[4] Some styles had a double-storey 'a' in the usual print form, similar to Erbar, others the single-storey form in the manner of Futura, and numerous alternative characters were available.[5] Digital-period type designer James Puckett describes it as "bonkers; really four typefaces that just got lumped together for the sake of marketing."[6][7][8][9] Middleton also designed a slab-serif typeface in similar style, Karnak, around the same time, again copying a German trend of Futura-style "geometric" slab-serifs.[10]
Tempo's italic, with its 'feet' at the bottom of the letters, was an influence on that of the popular 2002 geometric sans-serif family Neutraface, designed by Christian Schwartz.[11][12][13][14]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.