239: Eurostile: An Incomplete History of Type
- Diana Varma
- Mar 27
- 5 min read
From the middle ages to the Middle East, From Futura to Freight, join us on a journey across the type universe and go where no designer has gone before...Welcome to An Incomplete History of Type.
Name: Eurostile
Release Date: 1962
Designer: Aldo Novarese
Classification: Geometric
Owned By: URW Type Foundry
Claim to Fame: Popular in Sci-fi media and space exploration branding. Used in the original Dr Who title sequence.
Eurostile, the typeface that evokes sleek modernity and forward-thinking design, didn’t
begin life as we know it. No, its origins trace back to 1952, when two Italian designers,
Alessandro Butti (how a minion says buddy) and his young assistant Aldo Novarese
(no-va-rese), first set out to create what would become one of the most influential
typefaces of the 20th century. Butti and Novarese (no-va-rese) were looking to design a
typeface that was not only legible but also modern, a reflection of the postwar optimism
of the 1950s and the dawn of the space age.
Originally, the design they created was called Microgramma, a bold, geometric
sans-serif typeface, entirely in uppercase. This early version had clean, geometric forms
with a futuristic, almost machine-like quality. It was modern, yes, but also functional and
incredibly versatile. This was a typeface designed for the modern world, a world that
was on the cusp of technological breakthroughs.
However, the story doesn’t end there. In 1962, Aldo Novarese (no-va-rese), now with a
much more prominent role in the design world, returned to refine and expand on the
original concept. He introduced lowercase letters into the design, transforming
Microgramma into Eurostile.
It was this crucial shift that marked the true birth of Eurostile as we know it today.
But who exactly was Aldo Novarese (no-va-rese)? Born in 1922 in Turin, Italy, Novarese
(no-va-rese) was a master typographer, a man who truly understood the power of type.
To say Novarese (no-va-rese) was a design icon is no exaggeration. In fact, he’s often
compared to the likes of Ferrari in the world of cars: a designer with an unmistakable
sense of precision and flair. Over his lifetime, Novarese (no-va-rese) worked on
countless influential typefaces, but Eurostile remains one of his most enduring legacies.
So, what made Eurostile such a groundbreaking design? It’s not just the fact that it was
one of the first to include lowercase letters in a primarily geometric typeface. The
unique qualities of Eurostile are what set it apart from other typefaces of the time.
Eurostile is a geometric sans-serif typeface, meaning it lacks the small 'feet' or 'serifs'
that are common in more traditional typefaces. This absence of decorative elements
gives Eurostile a clean, modern, and functional appearance, making it ideal for a world
increasingly moving away from old design conventions.
Let’s break down the key design elements that give Eurostile its unmistakable look.
Square Shapes with Rounded Corners:
Eurostile’s letters are based on geometric shapes, think of squares, rectangles, and
circles, but with softened corners. This gives the typeface a crisp, yet approachable
appearance, striking a perfect balance between precision and human warmth.
Wide Letterforms:
Eurostile’s letters are horizontally extended, which gives the typeface a bold, confident,
and even somewhat futuristic look. It’s a design choice that commands attention, which
makes Eurostile perfect for signage, titles, and any application where you need a
typeface to make a strong impression.
Uniform Stroke Widths:
Another distinctive feature is the consistent thickness of the strokes. Unlike other
typefaces where stroke widths might vary, Eurostile’s evenness gives it a sense of
harmony and stability. It’s part of the reason the typeface still looks so clean and
modern today.
Futuristic Appeal:
Perhaps most importantly, Eurostile’s design is futuristic. It was created with the future
in mind, an era of space travel, technological breakthroughs, and digital innovation. Its
crisp, geometric forms evoke the sleek machinery of spacecraft, satellites, and scientific
progress.
Now, let’s talk about why Eurostile became more than just a typeface, it became a
cultural icon. You see, Eurostile quickly gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, whenthe world’s imagination was captured by the idea of space exploration and the high-tech
future. Being first utilized in Doctor Who’s original title sequence back in 1963. It didn’t
take long for designers and filmmakers to realize that Eurostile was the perfect typeface
to represent the future. From movie posters to TV shows, Eurostile quickly became the
go-to typeface for science fiction.
Perhaps its most iconic appearance was in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space
Odyssey, where Eurostile was used to display futuristic control panels, spacecraft
branding, and high-tech equipment. This connection to space age visuals became
cemented in the public’s mind and soon, the typeface was synonymous with all things
futuristic. Eurostile has been featured in decades of Sci-Fi even if you have not noticed
it. It can also be found in Sci-Fi pop culture like inside the DeLorean from Back to the
Future, Iron Man, Star Trek and much more.
But Eurostile wasn’t just for movies. It found its place in advertising, design, and even
technology. Its modern, clean lines were ideal for projects aiming to communicate
innovation. Over time, the typeface evolved with the world around it.
In the 1990s, for example, the typeface was updated with Eurostile 2 and Eurostile Next,
which further refined the proportions and adapted the typeface for use in the digital
world. These new versions made Eurostile even more versatile, ensuring its place in a
wide range of media from websites and apps to corporate branding and product
packaging.
Eurostile, with its clean, modern look, has continued to represent the cutting edge of
technology and the future. Its presence is everywhere from logos of tech companies to
user interfaces on devices, Eurostile has managed to remain relevant through changing
trends, maintaining its status as a timeless design.
And as we look ahead, it’s clear that Eurostile’s legacy is firmly cemented. It’s not just a
typeface, it’s a symbol of progress and the possibilities of the future.
So, why is Eurostile such a unique typeface? For one, it perfectly encapsulates the ethos
of the 20th century, a century of technological advancement, space exploration, and
digital innovation. It is a typeface born of optimism and forward-thinking. Even decades
after its creation, Eurostile continues to capture the imagination, transcending time and
trends, remaining as modern today as it was when it was first designed.
Whether you’re designing for a tech startup, a futuristic film, or an innovative product,
Eurostile is there, still looking to the future, just as its creators intended.
And that’s the story of Eurostile. From its origins as Microgramma in 1952, to its
evolution in the hands of Aldo Novarese (no-va-rese), to becoming the typeface of the
space age and beyond, Eurostile has truly become a symbol of the future. Thanks for
joining me for an Incomplete History on the typeface Eurostile.
This has been your host Sam Weinberg, till next time.
References
Addey, D. (2018). Typeset in the Future: Typography and Design in Science Fiction Movies.
Abrams Books.
https://books.google.ca/books?id=woFnDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10&source=gbs_toc_
r&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false
Coale, B. (2013, October 11). Eurostile, the Space Age font. Casey Printing. Retrieved
January 23, 2025, from
https://www.caseyprinting.com/blog/2013/typography/eurostile-the-space-age-f
ont
German Museum of Books and Writing. (2016, November 13). Eurostile. Deutsche
Nationalbibliothek. Retrieved January 23, 2025, from
https://mediengeschichte.dnb.de/DBSMZBN/Content/EN/FontDesign/05-eurostil
e-en.html#:~:text=The%20predecessor%20of%20Eurostile%20was,type%20with%
20clean%20geometric%20forms
Kupferschmid, I. (2016, September 15). Aldo: as Ferrari is to cars, Novarese is to type.
Type Network. Retrieved January 24, 2025, from
Rahaman, J. (2025, January 6). Eurostile Font: A Timeless Modern Typeface | Art. Vocal
Media. Retrieved January 23, 2025, from
About Our Guest:
Sam Weinberg is a 4th year RTA Sport Media student at Toronto Metropolitan University. As a graphic designer, Sam loves combining his passions for graphic design and sports to create compelling stories, build strong brands, and connect teams and audiences in meaningful ways. When not designing, Sam loves watching and playing sports, listening to music, immersing in films and tv shows and hiking and exploring.
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