When IBM commissioned Adrian Frutiger to adapt his
Univers type family for their Selectric
composers and typewriters in 1964, the design had to be altered
significantly to work within a system of coarsely unitized and
predetermined glyph widths. [Osterer & Stamm 2008] The result is a
quirky mutation of Univers with idiosyncratic
proportions and spacing.
Eight styles of Univers were adapted for the
Selectric machines: Light, Medium, Medium Italic, and Bold, in both
normal and condensed widths. Assistance for the final drawings came
from Silvain Robin together with Nicole Delamarre and later also
with Hans-Jürg Hunziker. [Osterer & Stamm 2008]
Anna-Lena Würth
referenced the original drawings for parts of her Multivers variable
font and research project at ANRT (2022–2024).
Other digital adaptations include Fluxisch Else (2010, OSP-foundry, used for
the sample here) which emulates rough analog effects. Jens Kutílek’s single-style Selectric UN 11
Medium (2022–2023) and Laurenz More…
When IBM commissioned Adrian Frutiger to adapt his Univers type family for their Selectric composers and typewriters in 1964, the design had to be altered significantly to work within a system of coarsely unitized and predetermined glyph widths. [Osterer & Stamm 2008] The result is a quirky mutation of Univers with idiosyncratic proportions and spacing.
Eight styles of Univers were adapted for the Selectric machines: Light, Medium, Medium Italic, and Bold, in both normal and condensed widths. Assistance for the final drawings came from Silvain Robin together with Nicole Delamarre and later also with Hans-Jürg Hunziker. [Osterer & Stamm 2008]
Anna-Lena Würth referenced the original drawings for parts of her Multivers variable font and research project at ANRT (2022–2024).
Other digital adaptations include Fluxisch Else (2010, OSP-foundry, used for the sample here) which emulates rough analog effects. Jens Kutílek’s single-style Selectric UN 11 Medium (2022–2023) and Laurenz Brunner’s UN-11 (Source Type, 2024, 3 styles) are cleaner digital adaptations based on the 11pt size, and match the unitization system more literally.
