It’s May the 4th 2023, which means its Star Wars Day! A hearty “May The 4th Be With You” to you. Star Wars is a generational franchise filled with amazing heroes and iconic villains. The sound of Darth Vader’s ominous death weeze can send fans in a tizzy. The iconic cast of characters are pop culture royalty. That includes brand new characters like Din Djarin or Turgle of Star Wars: Jedi Survivor fame.
There is one hero in the Star Wars Universe that silently moves the universe forward at every turn. A loving guide to the franchise who never steers a fan wrong and always has the best of intentions. No, it’s not Yaddle. It’s ITC Serif Gothic.
ITC Serif Gothic: A Star Wars Hero
ITC Serif Gothic has been exciting fans for years. A true testement to fantastic branding, ITC Serif Gothic is the consistent title typography of the Star Wars universe. These iconic title lockups bring a trusted, consistent look and feel to the brand. The typeface also gives the franchise a slight retrofuturistic feel, which fits the brand aesthetic.
ITC Serif Gothic released in 1972, designed by Herb Lubalin and Tony Di Spigna. Some of the earliest Star Wars posters used this typeface, as seen below. Whether as supporting copy or title treatment, ITC Serif Gothic has been a consistent brand element for decades. Only type and design nerds like myself and Dylan Lathrop will notice. Fans will see the type and get a sense of nostalgia and comfort. That is the power of typography, it can elicit feelings just like your sense of smell.
A continued Legacy of typographic dominance
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor continues the franchise’s consistent branding with ITC Serif Gothic making its way into the game. A fantastic follow up to the 2019 his Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Jedi Survivor follows Jedi Knight Cal Kestis on a new journey to rid the galaxy (far, far away) of the Empire.
Before you take control of Cal and begin your adventure, you are greeting by an old, faithful friend. ITC Serif Gothic is your introduction to your new journey in this universe yet again. It continues to guide you through the game, serving as menu text and title cards.
This is a crash course in keeping your branding consistent and strong. Stay true to your style and work within the parameters of your brand guidelines and you can make magical things last forever. Thanks for reading and may the 4th be with you!
Design Behind The Mask
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