Lora is a well-balanced contemporary serif with roots in calligraphy. It is a text typeface
with moderate contrast that is well-suited for body text. A paragraph set in Lora will make
a memorable appearance because of its brushed curves contrasting with driving serifs. The
overall typographic voice of Lora perfectly conveys the mood of a modern-day story or an
art essay.
Technically, Lora is optimized for screen appearance and works equally well in print.
Designed by Olga Karpushina and Alexei Vanyashin for Cyreal, it was released in 2022 with
contributions and assistance from Gayaneh Bagdasaryan. Lora is licensed under the SIL
Open Font License.
Claim to Fame:
What type is it? Lora is a classic serif typeface that exudes sophistication and readability.
This font is part of the Google Fonts library, making it readily accessible to designers and
architects worldwide. The font’s name, Lora, is derived from the Greek word for “beautiful,”
which encapsulates its design's essence.
Historical Roots To fully appreciate the significance of Lora, one must delve into the
historical evolution of serif typography. Originating in ancient Rome, serifs were designed
to enhance the readability of text carved onto stone. Lora font, with its graceful serifs and
balanced proportions, pays homage to this rich typographic history while seamlessly
integrating modern design principles.
Styles and Characteristics:
Elegance and Simplicity
Lora strikes a harmonious balance between elegance and simplicity. Its slender letterforms
and moderate contrast contribute to a refined aesthetic that communicates
professionalism without sacrificing readability. Architects can benefit from this balance
when presenting complex project details in a visually appealing manner.
Versatility
Whether used in headings or body text, Lora maintains its legibility across various sizes
and applications. Its versatility makes it an ideal choice for architects looking to create
cohesive and visually engaging portfolios that resonate with a diverse audience.
Timelessness
Lora’s timeless design ensures that it transcends fleeting design trends. Architects, aiming
for an enduring and classic appeal in their portfolios, can rely on Lora to convey a sense of
permanence and reliability.
Lora’s range of weights creates a clear visual hierarchy, seamlessly guiding viewers through
project details. Its bold and italic variations add sophistication to titles, while its balanced
proportions enhance readability, making detailed descriptions more engaging and
accessible.
About the Type Designer:
Alexei Vanyashin, a typeface designer based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, runs Cyreal Type
Foundry and teaches at Almaty City Design School. A BHSAD Moscow graduate (2010), he
has collaborated with major foundries like Swiss Typefaces, Optimo, Dalton Maag, and
Google Fonts.
Specializing in Cyrillic typography, he has contributed to fonts such as Florian, Geo,
Vidaloka, Nunito, Lora, and Rubik. Cyreal, his open-source foundry, offers Latin and Cyrillic
fonts under the SIL Open Font License 1.1, with source files on GitHub and customization
services available.
And that concludes our journey through the history and design of Lora. Thank you for
joining me on An Incomplete History of Type. Until next time, keep designing, keep creating,
and most importantly—keep exploring the world of type.
References
Quality fonts. Free. Fontshare. (2022, May 23). https://www.fontshare.com/fonts/lora
Future, R. T. (2023, December 29). Lora font: Elevating architectural portfolios with timeless
typography. RTF | Rethinking The Future.
https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/articles/lora-font/
Vanyashin, A. (n.d.). About: Alexei Vanyashin typography. About | Alexei Vanyashin
Typography. http://110design.ru/about
Vanyashin, A. (n.d.-b). Libre/Opensource Foundry - Cyreal open-source fonts. Cyreal Fonts.
About Our Guest:
Natalie Annabelle is a Graphic Communications student at Toronto Metropolitan University with a concentration in Publishing. Passionate about typography, design, and the
book industry, they explore the intersection of print and digital media in their work. They have experience in marketing, editorial design, and type-focused projects, including creating a font based on handwriting. When they’re not designing or reading, they enjoy discovering new typefaces and learning about the history of print.
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