It's Typography Week, and we're delving into the the history of sans serif, one of the most iconic typefaces in use today. Literally translating to ‘without serif’, this typeface can be mapped to changes in society, whether it’s the birth of industrial mechanisation or the digital age. For a large part of history, before the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press, text had to be written by hand. It’s no surprise that serif reigned supreme for so long – in fact it wasn’t until the 1800s that a successor emerged.
From humble beginnings, the sans serif dragged the design world kicking and screaming into the 20th century and is as relevant today as ever. If you want to try some sans serifs for yourself, have a look at our guide to free sans serif fonts.
