MD Primer
From the Foundry:
“A digital reinterpretation the flaws and inconsistencies of early sans-serifs, inspired by a range of both European grotesque and American gothic designs produced in the late 19th Century. From the mismatched proportions to the surplus curves, MD Primer is a celebration of the unrefined.”
Foundry Specimens:
NOTES:
Ok, so I’ve been staring at the specimens for this typeface release for a week now, and I can’t seem to look away. There’s a delight in these letters, an authenticity or warmth that I believe can only be attributed to the “celebration of the unrefined” nature of MD Primer.
Striking out in a decidedly un-sharp direction is a refreshing take on the over-trodden genre of the grotesque sans. I truly enjoy the way Primer captures digitally the feeling of this type being printed on page, as if there are little pixels of ink still lining its edges. It succeeds at capturing that charm of the old specimens and workhorse grotesques that so many attempt to capture but fall short of. I especially like the heavier weights, that’s where the imperfect moments start to shine. The lighter weights showcase the fullness of the construction, for instance in the extended width of some caps like the R, P, B, and M. The obvious attention to detail in the spacing and kerning too makes for a quality product with high font library value. I can see brands latching on to the un-digital aspects of this type as MD Primer has somehow figured out how to have a leg in both the print-feeling and digitally-operating worlds.
Rutherford Craze has made a name for himself as a designer of quality type and tools, with released like Nichrome on Future Fonts and the helpful Waterfall and Overview resources from the Mass-Driver Workshop, but something on the bucket list of the true greats that he has remained unaccomplished is a type family with a serious nod to history like a revival or family with academic research and reference…. that is until now. MD Primer puts Rutherford on track to be one of the more influential designers out there, and provides a deeply rooted offering in MD’s growing catalog.