Akzidenz-Grotesk® Next Font Field Guide

Best Practices

Akzidenz-Grotesk Next x-height was readjusted and additional designs were created to obtain a more consistent design than the original family. It’s many weights and range of proportions make the family ideal for a wide range of uses.

Family

Akzidenz-Grotesk Next contains 84 styles, from extra light to black, in regular condensed and expanded proportions.

Font Facts

• Some believe that Akzidenz-Grotesk was derived from Walbaum or Didot, because they have similar proportions and font metrics when the serifs are removed
• Akzidenz-Grotesk, loosely translated into English is “jobbing sans-serif” – as in, font used for simple, usually one sheet, jobs.

Roots

The first fonts of the Akzidenz-Grotesk family were released in 1898. By 1911, the family had grown to six styles. In 1958, the number had grown to thirteen. By 1968, there were twenty-one.

Akzidenz-Grotesk became available in the United States around 1957. The fonts were not marketed as “Akzidenz-Grotesk,” however, because it is difficult for English speakers to pronounce. It was called it “Standard” instead.

Legibility

Modest stroke width variations, letters with a distinct personality and simple character shapes make for a highly legible design in a wide range of sizes.

Download a PDF version of the Akzidenz-Grotesk Next Font Field Guide and view the Akzidenz-Grotesk Next font family.