DB type
DB Type is a font system that was developed by Erik Spiekermann and Christian Schwartz at the end of 2005 as a corporate font for Deutsche Bahn AG . Since then, the fonts have increasingly replaced the Helvetica and Stinnes Sans fonts used by DB . Nowadays, the DB type is used for almost all of DB's corporate communications. The font system can only be purchased from authorized partners of Deutsche Bahn AG.
Individual fonts
The DB Type font system consists of 34 individual weights , which are divided into six different font families. These can in turn be subdivided into fonts with and without serifs ( antiqua and sans serif ).
Special fonts are available depending on the area of application. These are:
- DB Head , a slightly narrower, sans serif font. It is intended for short texts and large headings with a font size of around 15 points.
- DB Sans , a predominantly sans serif font for longer, coherent texts, for example in advertisements or brochures . In contrast to DB Head , it has the beginnings of serifs on some letters, such as the "r", "g" or "i", in order to increase readability.
- DB Sans Condensed , like DB Sans, a font with serif hints for longer texts. However, it is narrower than DB Sans and is therefore used as a space-saving font in a small font, for example for small print .
- DB Sans Compressed , a font like DB Sans Condensed , but even narrower in order to convey a lot of information in a small space, as is the case, for example, in the course book .
- DB Serif , a serif font that is used in longer texts and promotes reading fluency.
- DB News , which like DB Serif is a serif font. However, it is a little narrower to save space in newspaper advertisements, for example.
- DB Office , the office version of DB Type, was introduced in September 2007. It is part of the internal MS Word and MS PowerPoint templates.
German design award
On February 9, 2007, the DB Type was awarded the Gold Design Prize of the Federal Republic of Germany in Frankfurt am Main . The “outstanding functionality” and the “cultivated appearance”, which “everyday German culture” is good to see, are praised. The DB Type is therefore a "masterpiece for more information culture in Germany".
Another font from Deutsche Bahn
The font Deutsche Bahn WLS (Wegeleitsystem) , which is used for the Deutsche Bahn signage, does not belong to the DB Type . It was designed in 1996 by Henning Krause based on Helvetica 's corporate design at the time. This should ensure that the passengers do not notice the introduction of the new information and orientation system. The font of the wayfinding system is not part of the corporate design of the DB and should differ from the house font because the stations are also used by other transport companies that do not belong to the DB brand. The stations and platforms should be signposted neutrally, so to speak "unbranded".
Web links
- Detailed font samples of the DB Type at www.urwpp.de (PDF; 1.2 MB)
- Information about the DB Type on www.fontblog.de
- Press release from Deutsche Bahn AG on the occasion of the award of the design prize ( memento from September 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
Individual evidence
- ↑ Christian Fischer, Johannes Eckert, Ilona Pfeifer, Philipp Schäfer, Andreas Uebele - University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, Department of Design (ed.): Font and identity: The design of signs in public transport , Niggli Verlag, August 2013, ISBN 978-3-7212 -0820-7