Light, lighter, lightest – Linotype introduces Agilita – January 26, 2007

Finding function in light and flexible forms

Bad Homburg, 26 January, 2007. Linotype launches one of the lightest fonts ever – Agilita™, a new OpenType sans serif, both adaptable and lively. In smaller point sizes, the hairline weight of Agilita is so fragile, it pulsates with the possibility of disappearing and reappearing. The larger the point size of the hairline, however, the more it wants to take charge, its delicacy lifting off the page and grabbing the eye. In heavier weights, Agilita displays an amicable human robustness and warmth. This unique range of appearances from quivering playfulness to classic solidity gives Agilita an independence ideal for highly versatile design applications. Captivating weightlessness and flexible functionality find a home in the new typeface Agilita.

Agilita is the latest creative inspiration by Jürgen Weltin, who has already shown a talent for embracing diversity and adaptability in his designs. He received accolades for the clean, yet eye-catching strokes of his typeface Yellow, designed for the British Telecommunications directory, and has successfully merged the practical and whimsical side of lettering in such typefaces as Finnegan™ and Balega™. When he’s not designing, he shares his passion for typeface in lectures on type and typography at the School of Design in Ravensburg.

Jürgen Weltin’s first sketches for Agilita were drafted early in 2000. He made a point of designing clear descenders and ascenders to outline classic letter proportions for a more definite word shape. The fine, distinct emphasis on the horizontals helps convey a functional yet dynamic humanism. OpenType features include old style figures and a unique @ sign all which go beyond the line and extend the playful movements of this limber typeface – no matter what the size or weight. All in all, the wide-range font family has 32 type styles and consists of ten weights from hairline to bold, plus six additional condensed styles.

Of the ten Agilita weights, the lighter ones are certainly the most exhilarating. Hairline, Ultra Thin, Thin, and Extra Light – these four weights emphasize the power of Agilita’s almost buoyant appearance. Printed in large sizes, these weights command the eye with their agility and expressive human characteristics. The Hairline and Ultra Thin styles have been especially designed for display use or for oversize texts in large-scale signage. Never before has such a subtle line of a typeface called so much attention to itself. To put it lightly – Agilita is positioned to revolutionize large-scale graphic design.

The flexibility and mobility of Agilita means it is also ideal for small detailed layouts or a wide range of other graphic design applications. For example, two sets of arrows are available in all weights for use in orientation systems and complex design or editorial projects, e.g. the special arrows and signs can also be used in dictionaries to add clarity to detailed entries. Designers will also find the corresponding condensed weights especially suitable for narrow columns and tables where horizontal space is scarce. In addition, tabular figures in light, regular, medium and bold share identical widths and are compatible with their italic counterparts, so no last minute line shifting or adjustments is required.

Thanks to Agilita’s super-size lightness and versatility, designers and typesetters now have the opportunity to reach new heights in communication – for agile and animated words in all sizes. For more details and a closer look visit www.linotype.com.


Linotype GmbH, based in Bad Homburg, Germany and a wholly owned subsidiary of Monotype Imaging Inc., looks back onto a history of more than 120 years. Building on its strong heritage, Linotype develops state-of-the-art font technology and offers more than 9000 typefaces, covering the whole typographic spectrum from antique to modern, from east to west, and from classical to experimental. All typefaces (in PostScript™ and TrueType™ format as well as more than 7000 fonts in OpenType™) are now also available for instant download at www.linotype.com. In addition to supplying digital fonts, Linotype also offers comprehensive and individual consultation and support services for font applications in worldwide (corporate) communication.

Linotype GmbH
Du-Pont-Straße 1
D-61352 Bad Homburg
Tel.: +49 (0) 61 72 - 484 - 0
Fax: +49 (0) 61 72 - 484 - 499
E-Mail: [email protected]

Please find more typeface application samples on the Internet at www.linotype.com.






This press release is available as pdf file. Please download:
English version (714 kb)
German version (62 kb)

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