The typef we deserv 2
4
1
tall x-height
X-height is vertical distance between the baseline and the mean line 2
vertical stress
Stress is the orientation of the counters of letterforms. Stress can be angled or vertical
short ascenders and descenders 3
An ascender is a part of a letterform that extends above the mean line. A descender is a part of a letterform that extends below the baseline 4
large set width
Set width is the width of a character
70 Type: A Closer Look
Gotham is a sans-serif typeface that Hoefler & Co. calls “straightforward, highly legible, no-nonsense” with a “great personality” (“Gotham” Hoefler & Co.). Gotham’s tall x-height and large set width create a typeface that feels rotund, prominent, and bulky. There is very little thick-to-thin stroke contrast, but moments where the stroke weight does get thinner, around the bowl of the ‘a’ and for example, contribute to the handmade quality and personality of Gotham. The vertical stress of the letterforms and completely square terminals maintain Gotham’s geometric quality. The single-story ‘g’ and the double story ‘a’ are unique characteristics of the typeface. The crossbars on the lowercase ’t’ and ‘f’ are uneven, with a shorter crossbar on the left side of the stem, and more space on the right side of the crossbar.
sq te