🔠the only typefaces massimo vignelli said you need

from the vignelli canon (free pdf, vignelli.com). his six, plus the four he said he could add.

Never miss an update

This list changes over time. Get a short email when it does.

At most one short email a week. Unfollow in one click.

Garamond

the old-style serif on the list. still legible tiny (still true)

Bodoni

high contrast serif, gets rough on screen at small sizes. print it and it's a different typeface

Century Expanded

Futura

geometric sans, no personality tricks. pin this above the desk

Times

Helvetica

the one everyone reaches for when they can't decide

Optima

part of the 'another half dozen' he said he could add

Univers

Caslon

when in doubt, use caslon. predates vignelli by about two centuries

Baskerville

Or start a list of your own. Free, it takes a minute.

Related lists