History

In preparation for me project and upon deciding to use Bodoni as my chosen font, I felt it would be appropriate to research it a little to gain some background information and insight.

• Bodoni was created by Giambattista Bodoni.
• Bodoni was born in Saluzzo, Italy.
• He was born in 1740 and passed away in 1813.
• Around 1790, Bodoni decided to redesign the classic Roman lettering. He made thin, hairline designs making letters appear smaller and sharper than many other fonts at the time.
• He aimed to produce a typeface that was neat and repeatable, a font that would be repeatable and consistent.
• When creating Bodoni, he was inspired by Didot, which was a largely popular serif font at the time. This font was characterised by having intense contrast, including bold, thick lines while also having thin, paperlike lines. Today, this is what makes Bodoni so recognisable for its expensive, sophisticated feel.
• Early examples of Bodoni can be seen the the publishing ‘Manuale Tipografico’ by Giambattista Bodoni, which was published in 1788.

Today…

Today Bodoni is still commonly used. It is generally seen as a luxurious font, most often used in fashion media and branding. Many famous organisations use Bodoni as part of their logo, including:

Evidently, the brands shown and many others that incorporate Bodoni into their designs are seen as relatively expensive and luxurious.

Reflection

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Researching Bodoni was very insightful, as I did not realise that it was created so long ago. I find it very impressive that a typeface published in the last 18th century is still seen as a relatively modern font with unique serifs and compatibility with different font weights.

Understanding this historical significance is key to allowing me to create a good specimen on this font, as I can add depth and history to both appeal and inform an audience.

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• Sources