100 px

  • General info
  • Available languages
  • OpenType
  • Background story
  • Related tags
Laurentian™ font family

Designed by  Rod McDonald in 2003

Up to 8 Typefaces / 3 Value Packs
Supports at least 33 languages (Pro / OT CFF)

Available licenses for all styles:

Supports up to 74 languages.

Please select a format to view the available languages:

Supports up to 7 OpenType features.

Please select a format to view the available OpenType features:

Maclean's is a weekly Canadian newsmagazine with a broad editorial mission. A typical issue covers everything from violence on the other side of the globe to the largest pumpkin grown in a local county.

In 2001, Maclean's invited Rod McDonald to become part of the design team to renovate" the 96-year-old publication. The magazine wanted to offer its readers a typographic voice that was professional, clean, and easy to read. Above all, the typeface had to be able to speak about the hundreds of unrelated subjects addressed in each issue while remaining believable and uncontrived.

A tall order, perhaps? Now add in that this would be the first text typeface ever commissioned by a Canadian magazine. McDonald, who some have called Canada's unofficial "typographer laureate," took on the challenge.

McDonald used two historic models as the basis for Laurentian's design: the work of French type designer Claude Garamond, and that of the English printer and type founder, William Caslon. From Garamond Laurentian acquired its humanist axis, crisp serifs and terminals that mimic pen strokes. Caslon's letters are less humanistic, with a more marked contrast in stroke weight and serifs that appear constructed rather than drawn. These traits also made their mark on Laurentian.

Using these two designs as a foundation, McDonald drew Laurentian with the narrow text columns and small type sizes of magazine composition in mind. He gave his letters strong vertical strokes and sturdy serifs, a robust x-height and a slightly compressed character width

A tall order, per McDonald's genius is evident in the face's legibility, quiet liveliness and in the openness of the letters. The result is a typeface that not only met Maclean's demanding design brief, but also provides exceptional service in a wide variety of other applications.

Laurentian is available in three weights of Regular, Semi Bold and Bold, with complementary italics for the Regular and Semi Bold, and a suite of titling caps."

Show more
Hide
8 Typefaces available in:
Show all

Laurentian™ Regular

-  4 variants
From US$ 29
Add to cart
Add to cart

Laurentian™ Pro Italic

-  4 variants
From US$ 29
Add to cart
Add to cart

Laurentian™ Semi Bold

-  4 variants
From US$ 29
Add to cart
Add to cart
From US$ 29.99
Add to cart
Add to cart

Laurentian™ Pro Condensed

-  2 variants
From US$ 29.99
Add to cart
Add to cart
From US$ 29.99
Add to cart
Add to cart
From US$ 29
Add to cart
Add to cart

Laurentian™ Bold

-  4 variants
From US$ 29
Add to cart
Add to cart