Rotis
Encyclopedia
Rotis is a typeface
developed in 1988 by Otl Aicher, a German
graphic designer and typographer. In Rotis, Aicher explores an attempt at maximum legibility through a highly unified yet varied typeface family that ranges from full serif, glyphic, and sans-serif. The four basic Rotis variants are:
, where Otl Aicher lived. Unlike the place, the font's name is written in minuscules, since Aicher thought of capital letters as a sign of hierarchy and oppression.
However, since the fonts were reissued by Monotype Imaging, Rotis font names have been capitalized. This also affects fonts published by downstream foundries.
Typeface
In typography, a typeface is the artistic representation or interpretation of characters; it is the way the type looks. Each type is designed and there are thousands of different typefaces in existence, with new ones being developed constantly....
developed in 1988 by Otl Aicher, a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
graphic designer and typographer. In Rotis, Aicher explores an attempt at maximum legibility through a highly unified yet varied typeface family that ranges from full serif, glyphic, and sans-serif. The four basic Rotis variants are:
- Rotis serif (antiqua) — with full serifs
- Rotis semi-serif (semi-antiqua) — with hinted serifs
- Rotis semi-sans (semi-grotesque) — without serifs but with stroke width variation
- Rotis sans (lineale humanist sans-serif) — without serifs and with very minimal variation on stroke width
Monotype Originals versions
When the fonts were reissued under the Monotype Originals label, the fonts support include support of ISO Adobe 2 character set, OpenType features. The Rotis font names are capitalized.Rotis Semi Sans
It includes 45 Light, 46 Light Italic, 55 Roman, 56 Italic, 65 Bold, 75 Extra Bold fonts.Rotis Pro
It includes support of ISO Adobe 2, Adobe CE, Latin Extended characters. In addition, separate fonts for Greek and Cyrillic characters were also created. Greek and Cyrillic fonts support ISO Adobe 2 and Latin Extended characters, and support super/sub-script OpenType feature.Naming convention
The name of the typeface comes from the place-name Rotis, a quarter of the German town of Leutkirch im AllgäuLeutkirch im Allgäu
Leutkirch im Allgäu is a city in south-eastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is part of the district of Ravensburg, in the western, Württembergish part of the Allgäu region. It belongs to the administrative region of Tübingen....
, where Otl Aicher lived. Unlike the place, the font's name is written in minuscules, since Aicher thought of capital letters as a sign of hierarchy and oppression.
However, since the fonts were reissued by Monotype Imaging, Rotis font names have been capitalized. This also affects fonts published by downstream foundries.
Uses
- BjörkBjörkBjörk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
used this font for the artwork of her album HomogenicHomogenicHomogenic is the fourth studio album by Icelandic musician Björk, released in September 1997. Produced by Björk, Mark Bell, Guy Sigsworth, Howie B and Markus Dravs, it was released on One Little Indian Records...
and all its corresponding singles. - The city of MontrealMontrealMontreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
uses rotis semi-sans extra-bold 75. However, it was modified slightly to spell out the word Montréal. - The East Lancashire Institute of Higher Education in Blackburn, LancashireLancashireLancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and the college campus it is affiliated with both use rotis in logos and signage. - The Vrije Universiteit BrusselVrije Universiteit BrusselThe Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
uses rotis sans as its corporate typeface. - AccentureAccentureAccenture plc is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company headquartered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It is the largest consulting firm in the world and is a Fortune Global 500 company. As of September 2011, the company had more than 236,000 employees across...
currently uses rotis in their wordmarkWordmarkA wordmark, word mark or logotype is a standardized text logo or graphic representation of the name of a company, institution, or product name used for purposes of identification and branding. A wordmark is usually a distinct text-only typographic treatment as can be found in the graphic identities...
and advertising. - Assessment and Qualifications AllianceAssessment and Qualifications AllianceAQA is an Awarding Body in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It compiles specifications and holds examinations in various subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level and offers vocational qualifications. AQA is a registered charity and independent of the Government...
(AQA) also uses rotis on their website and on their publications. - The Finland-based firm NokiaNokiaNokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
also used this font in their packaging, user manuals and advertising, although this has mostly been replaced with their own font, Nokia Sans, for their phones' user interface and promotional materials. - The Australian Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency, CentrelinkCentrelinkCentrelink is the trading name of the Commonwealth Service Delivery Agency , a statutory authority responsible for delivering human services on behalf of agencies of the Commonwealth Government of Australia. The majority of Centrelink's services are the disbursement of social security payments...
(the government provider of social security/ welfare), uses this typeface in their logo. - The metroRapid transitA rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
of BilbaoBilbaoBilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
(Metro BilbaoMetro BilbaoMetro Bilbao is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Its lines have a "Y" shape, with two lines that transit both banks of the Nervión river and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao...
) uses this typeface in its logo and signage. - Auckland City CouncilAuckland City CouncilAuckland City Council was the local government authority representing Auckland City, New Zealand, and was amalgamated into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010. It was an elected body representing the 404,658 residents of the city...
used rotis for traffic signage. - Singapore's highway and street signage uses the rotis typeface.
- It is one of the primary components FRISK Software'sFRISK Software InternationalFRISK Software International, is an Icelandic software company that develops F-Prot antivirus and F-Prot AVES antivirus and antispam service. Its name is derived from the initial letters of the personal name and patronymic of Friðrik Skúlason, its founder...
corporate identityCorporate identityIn Corporate Communications, a corporate identity is the "persona" of a corporation which is designed to accord with and facilitate the attainment of business objectives...
. - Also based in Auckland, New Zealand's largest architecture firm Jasmax uses rotis in all of its documents.
- The Rotis family is also used in book publishing, one example being Naomi KleinNaomi KleinNaomi Klein is a Canadian author and social activist known for her political analyses and criticism of corporate globalization.-Family:...
's No LogoNo LogoNo Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies is a book by Canadian author Naomi Klein. First published by Knopf Canada in January 2000, shortly after the 1999 WTO Ministerial Conference protests in Seattle had generated media attention around such issues, it became one of the most influential books...
which uses the semi-serif face. Open Source PressOpen Source PressOpen Source Press is a computer book publisher based in Munich, Germany. The company specialises on high-quality publications on topics related to open-source software and philosophy. It was founded in 2003....
uses Rotis Sans Serif for all their books' body text, and Semi Serif for the headers. - The University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California, San DiegoThe University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
use the semi-serif face as its primary display type. - ERCO, the German based lighting fixture manufacturer, uses semi-sans for their logo and literature.
- The rotis font family is used by the kitchen company bulthaupBulthaupbulthaup is a German kitchen manufacturer, founded in 1949 by Martin Bulthaup. The company is located in Aich near Bodenkirchen in Lower Bavaria....
. - The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry uses the Rotis family of fonts as one set of their official typefaces.
- The inscriptions on the gravestone of Manchester impresario Anthony H. Wilson, designed by Peter SavillePeter SavillePeter Saville is an English art director and graphic designer. During the 1980s, he designed many record sleeves for Factory Records.-Early life:Peter Saville was born in Manchester.Saville attended St Ambrose College...
and Ben Kelly, are in Rotis Serif.
External links
- Rotis Font Family & Packages
- Is Rotis a typeface? - Robin Kinross and Erik Spiekermann on rotis
- Rotis am Ende?