Sheffield Sans
1. Sheffield Sans in use on a city centre sign
Quietly informing and directing the way around Sheffield.
When the city of Sheffield developed their city centre wayfinding system, we were approached by Atelier Works to design a typeface for the signage programme. Sheffield has a long industrial heritage, most famously for steel production, but also as the home of the respected type foundry Stephenson Blake & Co. From the start it made sense to reflect this typographic history in our design.
2. Map design by Altelier Works
3. Graphic layout showing direction and locla building information
The graphics that Atelier developed combined mapping with contemporary photographs. The typeface was required to function across a broad range of typographic uses; including large headings, directional information, local interpretative notes on key buildings, timetable information, and mapping [figs 2, 3].
4. Granby Condensed
5. Granby
Atelier were interested in Stephenson Blake’s Granby Condensed type, but this was too condensed for use so it, together with the wider Granby family, became a primary source of inspiration for the new design [figs 4, 5]. We were also able to expand our typographic references to include Stephenson Blake’s wider contribution to the type designs of the late 19th century. Especially their striking Grotesque series of types which are full of warmth and visual flavour [fig 6].
6. Grotesque No. 8
Designed during the 1930s, Granby is Stephenson Blake’s contribution to the wave of geometric sans serifs being introduced by the continental foundries as well as the success of Monotype’s Gill Sans. The design of Granby itself is strongly influenced by Edward Johnston’s Underground Sans typeface of 1916. Most obviously is the diamond dot used over the i and j; a feature we retained in Sheffield Sans [figs 7, 8].
7. Johnston Sans a
8. Johnston Sans i
9. Development sketch with alignment notes showing the same height capitals, ascender and lining figures
10. Stage development of the digital letters
11. Sketch showing the different treatments of q, p, d, b together with a note highlighting the cut top of the l
12. Numbers from the Grotesque type showing distinctive over-curving strokes
13. Sketches for Sheffield Sans numbers
14. Finished wayfinding sign in situ on the streets of Sheffield
15. Bus route indicator
16. Detailed bus route information
17. Sign positioned outside Sheffield station showing the full height of the modular system
18. Illuminated sign
19. In use
The public release of this typeface is named Wayfarer, for which we increased the character set, extended the range of weights, and added an italic.
Further reading
Baines, Phil, and Dixon, Catherine. ‘Sense of place’, Eye, number 58, volume 15, 2005
—. Signs:lettering in the environment, Laurence King, 2003
Cosby, Theo, Fletcher, Alan, and Forbes, Colin. A sign systems manual, Studio Vista, 1970
Handover, P M. ‘Grotesque letters’, Monotype Newsletter, number 69, 1963
Howes, Justin. Johnston’s Underground type, Capital Transport, 2000
Millington, Roy. Stephenson Blake the last of the old English typefounders, The British Library and Oak Knoll Press, 2002
Sutton, James. Signs in action, Studio Vista, 1965
Printing types, Stephenson Blake & Co., 1937
Wood letter, Stephenson Blake & Co., 1962
Typeface details
Sheffield Sans has 3 fonts
Light, Regular, Bold
Each font has 305 glyphs
Completed 2003