two-story вЂaвЂ™ and вЂg,вЂ™ having true italics instead of sloped roman.) Besides being one of the first fonts in the second вЂњwaveвЂќ of Humanist sans designs (the first wave is typified by Gill Sans, the second by Syntax and Frutiger, and the third by Scala Sans and Myriad.) The fourth wave is a bigger one that lasts until today. Scala Sans came into wide use in the 90вЂ™s, partly because it has a construction reminiscent of a roman typeface, and calligraphic influence (ie. The capitals are humanist and has higher contrasts,В but its lowercase are more akin to Gotham, and thus can be used as an alternative. Stag Sans is GothamвЂ™s humanist cousin, with higher x-height and softer, more blunt edges.

Looking for something more economical? The Bryant Condensed family has the width of a grotesque, and would make a fine contemporary substitute for fonts like Benton Sans. Think of Bryant as a more serious version of Gotham Rounded. Bryant is based off the Wrico Lettering Set, a set of pens, rulers and plastic templates that one can trace for use in drafting. Proxima also takes inspiration from the Federal Highway fonts, and the fact that it was designed (and redesigned, hence the Nova addition) over the course of 27 years gives Proxima Nova an American vernacular quality that is reminiscent of Gotham, only more refined. Helvetica.) It shares theВ construction, details and stroke constrast of these categories, respectively. Proxima Nova, designed by Mark Simonson, is named for its close proximity to grotesque (ie. ItвЂ™s likely to be the Helvetica of 2007вЂ“08, or better yet, вЂњThe New Helvetica.вЂќ ItвЂ™s forms are sturdy, and its character distinct (and I daresay вЂњAmerican,вЂќ much like how Gill Sans is вЂњEnglishвЂќ or a Fraktur is вЂњGerman.вЂќ) These alternatives, though, are available when you want something different. Ah, Gotham, the vernacular, everyman sans serif.

Scala Sans Pro