Mercedes Padro Marty Lane, Dan Padavic Typography I November 5, 2013 Utopia STD Utopia STD was designed

in 1989 and is categorized as a Transitional typeface, characterized by a large stroke contrast, which makes the typeface more readable.1 This time period is significant because digital media made type design technology more expansive and user friendly.2 Robert Slimbach, Utopia STD designer, concentrated on digital design in regards to typefaces and was particularly inspired by classical typefaces.3 In 1987, Robert Slimbach joined Adobe Systems 4, and by 1989, Slimbach designed Utopia STD as an Adobe Originals typeface.5 Four years prior to these achievements, Slimbach worked on type in the type drawing department of Autologic in Newbury Park, California. 6 In 1991, Slimbach received the Prix Charles Peignot from Association Typographique Internationale for excellence in type design. 7 Presently, Slimbach directs Adobes type design program. 8 Among other typefaces, hes designed Adobe Jenson, Kepler, and Minion. 9 Utopia STD has a considerably good range for a variety of functions. Utopia can be used in books, newspapers, and advertisements. Utopia is unique in that it has calligraphic, or Old Style elements, as well as modern elements. I find that Utopias most iconic attribute is the pronounced thick and thin contrasts, that isnt quite as pronounced as Modern fonts, but aptly balances between Old Style and Modern stroke weights. His [Roberts] typefaces are almost unfailingly humanistic, but usually lost underneath the virtuosity of his design is a foundation of technical precision and ambition, and a concern for practical and lasting usability. 10

Ambrose, Gavin, and Paul Harris. The Visual Dictionary of Typography. Lausanne, Switzerland: AVA Publishing, 2010. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed November 5, 2013), 279. 2 Hill, William. The Complete Typographer a Manual for Designing with Type, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005, 21. 3 Robert Slimbach, http://www.adobe.com/products/type/font-designers/robert-slimbach.html. 4 Ibid. 5 Utopia STD, http://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/html/index.cfm?store=OLSUS&event=displayFontPackage&code=1414. 6 Robert Slimbach, http://www.adobe.com/products/type/font-designers/robert-slimbach.html. 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid. 10 Robert Slimbachs 25 Years of Type at Adobe, http://blogs.adobe.com/typblography/2012/03/robertslimbach-25-years.html.

Bibliography Ambrose, Gavin, and Paul Harris. The Visual Dictionary of Typography. Lausanne, Switzerland: AVA Publishing, 2010. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed November 5, 2013). Hill, William. The Complete Typographer a Manual for Designing with Type, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005, 21. Robert Slimbach, http://www.adobe.com/products/type/font-designers/robertslimbach.html. Robert Slimbachs 25 Years of Type at Adobe, http://blogs.adobe.com/typblography/2012/03/robert-slimbach-25-years.html. Utopia STD, http://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/html/index.cfm?store=OLSUS&event=displayFontPackage&code=1414.