Garamond: History, uses and benefits of the classic serif typography

To talk about the Garamond font is to talk about one of the best fonts ever invented. Its elegance and legibility make this style a constant element in professional graphic design. Whether we know it or not, we have all been exposed to its charm or have used it in a project.

In this entry we are going to travel to the past to know the history of Garamond typeface. Afterwards, we will review what are the usos most common that this style receives in current professional graphic design. Finally, we will highlight the benefits of using it and the reasons why it is still as valid today as when it was invented.

Origins of the Garamond font

The Garamond serif font is one of the most used in graphic design, both in digital and print media. Today, it is considered one of the most popular types of writing in the world. This is a remarkable fact, especially when we consider that Its origin dates back to the 16th century.

The much acclaimed fountain owes its name to the type designer Claude Garamond, who was born in Paris, France, in the year 1490. At that time, about 50 years ago, Gutenberg's movable type printing press had revolutionized the way books and texts were produced. And by around 1530, Claude had already become an expert typographer, printer, and matrix engraver.

It was in 1530 when Garamond first used the fountain we know today by name.. He drew, engraved and cast it himself to be used in the book Paraphrasis in Elegantiarum Laurentii Vallae, by Erasmus of Rotterdam. He was inspired by an influential typeface of the time, created by the engraver Francesco Griffo for the printer Aldus Manutius in 1945.

All of these fonts based their design on the classical forms used in handwriting in ancient Rome. This type of font was characterized by its fine lines and by having serifs or pronounced endings. Garamond preserved these two items in the source of it, but using thinner, more subtle serifs that resulted in cleaner, more legible letters.

Evolution and modern reinterpretations

About ten years after first using his font, Garamond worked on a special project. In 1540 he was chosen by King Francis I of France to draw, engrave and cast printing type with Greek characters. This work was later known as the Grec du Roi (King's Greek), and was used to print the work Alphabetum Graecum, by Robert Estienne.

After the death of Claude Garamond, in 1561, the typographer Christophe Plantin acquired many of his original punches and dies. Plantin was a master of typography, whose designs stood out for their elegance, legibility and clarity. He made extensive use of the typefaces designed by Garamond, helping to popularize them throughout Europe.

In more recent times, Garamond's work received a boost to modernity thanks to the work of American typeface designer Robert Slimbach. In 1989, Slimbach digitized several classic sources, including Garamond's, preserving his essence and immortalizing his work. Many modern designers have taken this font as a base to create new digital versions. Some of them are:

• Adobe Garamond: It is one of the best-known reinterpretations, designed by Slimbach himself for Adobe Systems. It retains the elegance of the original font, but with greater clarity and legibility for use on screens.
• Sabon: Designed by Jan Tschichold, this adaptation features more modern serifs and more open proportions, ideal for large blocks of text.
• Joanna: Designed by Eric Gill as a freer adaptation of Garamond, with thicker strokes and more rounded serifs.

Common uses that Garamond receives in current graphic design

In the world of professional graphic design, you have to choose carefully what to say and how to say it. This last aspect is closely related to the type of letter or font used to write a word or phrase. And it doesn't matter if it's a print magazine, a billboard or the home page of a website.

In this sense, it is worth remembering the criteria that determine an appropriate selection of typography in graphic design. In addition to being clear and legible, the font must have a style that harmonizes with the message you want to convey. Well, Garamond is not only easy on the eyes and easy to read, but it also has the perfect balance between classic and modern.

In addition, Its timeless design keeps it fresh, elegant and always current.. It is not surprising that prestigious brands, such as Rolex or Apple, incorporate the Garamond typography in their products, logos and editorial designs. Some common uses of this classic serif font are the following:

• Corporate advertising: Often used to create elegant and timeless logos, especially for brands looking to convey sophistication and tradition. It is also used on business cards, stationery and other branding materials.
• Printed and digital books and magazines: It is a classic choice for bodies of text in books, magazines and newspapers, both print and digital. It is also used in academic and scientific journals due to its high readability and sophisticated appearance.
• Diseño web: It is frequently used to write headers, titles and body texts on blogs, portfolios and corporate websites.
• Diseño de packaging: It is the preferred font in packaging or wrapper design for luxury products, such as perfumes, wines and jewelry.
• Infografías y presentaciones: Also perfect for creating readable titles and labels in infographics and presentations.

Benefits of classic serif typography

Using the classic serif typography in your graphic design projects gives you important advantages. It is no coincidence that it is one of the most used fonts in the creation of different printed and digital texts. Learning to take advantage of its particular characteristics translates into benefits such as:

• Texts with a high readability, even using small letters, thanks to its well-proportioned design.
• Fácil adaptación to a wide variety of styles and projects, from books and magazines to logos and marketing materials.
• Designs always fresh and modern, but without losing focus clásico o tradicional necessary in most cases.