It began with what seemed like a simple request: Can you make a Sans serif version of ITC Charter? The request was to Matthew Carter, the designer of serif design. Carter’s reply was, “Sure, or at least I think so. Let’s give it a try.” And try he did.
While several serif typefaces have been made into successful sans – and vice versa – Carter found that removing the serifs from ITC Charter proved problematic. Its relatively narrow capitals and lowercase shapes with a suggestion of those found in 18th century French old style designs, while ideal for the distinctive and robust ITC Charter, did not provide a good foundation on which to build a sans.
Undaunted, Carter decided to build a new Sans Serif design from scratch – but not just any new sans. He looked at the many models available: humanistic, 19th century grotesque, geometric and square. Instead of a traditional approach, however, Carter chose a road less traveled: a glyphic sans. It would be a typeface reflecting lapidary inscriptions rather than pen-drawn or constructed letters. Stroke weights would flair slightly, producing just the hint of a serif, and counters would not echo the outside character shapes. It was on this foundation that Carter Sans was built. Carter describes the final design as a “sanserif whose stroke-endings show the effect of the chisel more than the pen.”
