Franklin Gothic, a sans serif font developed in the early part of the twentieth century, remains popular today as a symbol of simplicity and strength. Aesthetically characterized by neat lines, well-defined shapes, and a rather forceful expression, this typeface has adorned an incredible number of headlines, ads, and logos, thus becoming one of the most popular and versatile fonts worldwide. Franklin Gothic typeface was born in the American Type Founders (ATF) foundry and has evolved into one of the most used fonts in today’s society.
History
Franklin Gothic has its origin in the year 1902 when Morris Fuller Benton, the chief designer at ATF, decided to design a sturdy and eye-catching face that would suit display uses. Following the tradition of Monotype Grotesque which was developed in the early 19th century, Benton aimed at creating a typeface that would reflect the dynamics of the industrial revolution, focusing on legibility, functionality, and noticeability.
Designed in 1903 by Morris F. Benton and distributed by the American Type Founders, Franklin Gothic was an immediate hit. Due to its solid form and angular shapes, the typeface was perfect for titles, promotional materials, and billboards, and it is suitable for text in smaller sizes as well. In the following decades, publishers, designers, and advertisers adopted the font and applied it to newspapers, magazines, and books. It also penetrated the advertising industry, where, due to its visibility and aesthetic value, it became popular among advertisers and graphic artists.
Features
The continued popularity of Franklin Gothic is due to certain design aspects that make it both visually pleasing and practical. Its x-height, the height of the lowercase letters, such as ‘x’, is large which is beneficial for readability on screens as smaller text can be difficult to read on these platforms. The x-height in Franklin Gothic is fairly higher than many other serif fonts, and therefore, letters seem more clear and separated at any size.
The font also has strong strokes at the ends of the letters, commonly known as serifs. The serifs of these fonts are clearly distinguishable, which gives the reader a set of points to follow along the lines to enhance the overall reading since there is no strain in the eyes. The serifs of Franklin Gothic are bold enough to enhance readability while not overly decorative to take much attention away from the text.
Franklin Gothic has another key characteristic when it comes to its counters; these are the enclosed spaces inside letters such as ‘c,’ ‘e,’ and ‘a. ’ The counters in Franklin Gothic are more open than in other fonts, and this is beneficial in that letters do not become crowded and indistinct at small sizes, which is a frequent problem in fonts when displayed on screens with low pixel density. The open counters help create a less cluttered and more spacious appearance in the text.
Usage
Franklin Gothic is an extremely versatile font and is used in a number of various contexts. Printers often employ this type of font in headlines, advertisements, posters, and on the covers of books and magazines. In the world of the internet, it is a leader in the sphere of web design, logo design, and user interfaces design. It is a highly provocative type of font, which is very effective in making a statement and catching attention.
Similar Fonts to Franklin Gothic Font
Nevertheless, Franklin Gothic has its own characteristics; however, there are other fonts that are similar to it and can be helpful for comparison. Some notable examples include:
News Gothic: Another font of Benton’s, similar to Franklin Gothic but with slightly rounder shapes.
Alternate Gothic: Another member of the Gothic family, with a condensed design that is perfect for small areas.
Impact: A strong and compressed sans serif font that is suitable for titles and posters.
Helvetica: A very common and versatile font that belongs to the category of sans-serif fonts.
Franklin Gothic Font Free Download
FAQ’s
Who designed Franklin Gothic?
Franklin Gothic was developed by Morris Fuller Benton in the year 1902 as part of the American Type Founders Company. Benton was a very productive typeface designer and developed more than 200 fonts in his working life.
Is Franklin Gothic a free font?
Franklin Gothic is not fully free of charge. Some operating systems have it built in, but you will typically need a commercial license for workplace usage.
What other fonts go well with Franklin Gothic?
You use Franklin Gothic with lighter and more graceful fonts such as Garamond, Baskerville, or Futura to make the design harmonious.
What is the variety of weights of Franklin Gothic?
Franklin Gothic has many styles, from the lightest to the heaviest font. Some common weights are Book, Medium, Demi, and Heavy. Every weight provides a distinctive aesthetic, which makes it easier for designers to select the right solution for their projects.
