In the vast landscape of typography, one font family stands out for its unique blend of elegance, readability, and versatility: Orbus. Designed by the renowned type foundry, TypeTogether, Orbus has swiftly become a favorite among designers and typography enthusiasts alike, thanks to its wide range of styles and impressive features.
Orbus was born out of a desire to create a font that could seamlessly transition from print to screen, making it an ideal choice for both graphic design and web design projects. Its designer, Veronika Burian, aimed to craft a font that was not only highly functional but also possessed a distinct and appealing personality.
Orbus: A Brief History
Orbus was first released in 2015, initially consisting of 16 styles, including four weights (Thin, Light, Regular, and Bold) and four widths (Compressed, Condensed, Regular, and Expanded). Since its launch, the family has grown to include over 60 styles, demonstrating its enduring popularity and the foundry's commitment to expanding its functionality.
The name 'Orbus' is derived from the Latin word for 'circle' or 'ring,' reflecting the font's circular letterforms and the continuous, flowing nature of its design.
Orbus' Design Aesthetic
At its core, Orbus is a neo-grotesque sans-serif font, characterized by its geometric forms and minimal ornamentation. Its letterforms are clean and unadorned, with a subtle playfulness that sets it apart from other fonts in its category. The font's design is rooted in the modernist principles of simplicity, functionality, and clarity, making it highly legible and versatile.
Orbus' unique aesthetic is evident in its distinctive details, such as the open 'a' and 'g' forms, the slightly diagonal stress of the letters, and the subtle notching on the stems of certain letters. These details give Orbus a distinct identity while maintaining a sense of familiarity.
Orbus' Extensive Character Set
One of Orbus' standout features is its extensive character set, which includes support for over 200 languages, making it an excellent choice for multilingual projects. The font also boasts a wide range of OpenType features, such as small caps, old-style figures, and contextual alternatives, allowing for a high degree of customization and fine-tuning.
Orbus' character set also includes a set of stylistic alternates, giving designers the option to add a touch of uniqueness to their designs. These alternates include variations on letters like 'g,' 'a,' and 'e,' as well as a set of discretionary ligatures that can be used to create interesting and unexpected combinations.
Orbus in Action
Orbus' versatility has made it a popular choice for a wide range of design applications. Its clean, legible forms make it an excellent choice for body text, while its distinctive details and wide range of weights and widths make it well-suited for headings and display text.
Orbus has been used in a variety of contexts, from branding and advertising to web design and packaging. Its ability to convey a sense of modernity and sophistication has made it a favorite among designers seeking to create contemporary, forward-thinking designs.
Orbus in Branding
Orbus' versatility and distinctive personality make it an excellent choice for branding projects. Its wide range of weights and widths allows it to be used in a variety of contexts, from logos and wordmarks to headlines and body text. The font's clean, legible forms ensure that it remains highly readable at small sizes, making it an ideal choice for branding applications.
One notable example of Orbus in branding is its use by the design studio Pentagram in the rebranding of the New York Public Library. The font's clean, modern forms helped to create a sense of approachability and accessibility, reflecting the library's commitment to serving its community.
Orbus on the Web
Orbus' extensive character set and wide range of weights make it an excellent choice for web design projects. Its legibility and readability ensure that it remains highly functional at small sizes, making it well-suited for body text and navigation elements.
Orbus has been used in a variety of web design contexts, from corporate websites to e-commerce platforms. Its ability to convey a sense of modernity and sophistication has made it a popular choice among designers seeking to create contemporary, forward-thinking web designs.
In the ever-evolving world of typography, Orbus stands out as a font that is both highly functional and deeply expressive. Its unique design aesthetic, extensive character set, and wide range of weights and widths make it a versatile and valuable tool for designers seeking to create contemporary, forward-thinking designs. As typography continues to evolve, it is clear that Orbus will remain a staple in the design community for years to come.