Chapter 19: Anders

Anders is the name of a geometric typeface with a modern look, unlike the more familiar serifs and san serifs. With geometric fonts, basic shapes such as a square, triangle or circle take over the main portion of the design. Anders font offers optical patterns and specific structure and avoids the complications of serifs. You’ll see this style of typeface used most often in contemporary pieces. 

Anders font has a clean but bold look and works well with minimalistic designs. Combining minimalism with this type puts the focus on the letters and doesn’t cause the design to look overly busy. Because screen resolutions improve every year and geometric styles are unadorned, more designers recommend fonts such as Anders for online creations. Geometric works well for blocks of text, too. Anders font is one well worth looking into and considering for your next project. Unless you’re working on something needing a vintage look, the applications of geometric typefaces are endless.

Origin

Anders font is the brainchild of U.K. designer Tom Anders Watkins. He began his career while still a teen, becoming well known in the industry before he hit 20. Although Watkins is now in his mid-20s, he hasn’t slowed down, adding filmmaking credits to his already impressive portfolio. He paid his way through college by selling various digital design goods. He’s won some impressive awards for as young as he is. Watkins placed second for a film at the Cannes Young Lions and was named to Adobe Photoshop’s 25 under 25. Geometric fonts go back to 1920s elemental typography and are tied to the Bauhaus movement.

Some of the designs weren’t discernable during this era because they were so intricate. By the 1970s, when ITC Bauhuas became popular, geometric designs were more widely embraced. Other popular fonts in this style include Futura and Avenir. Watkins posted the Anders font on Behance in July of 2014. He noted that he created the font as an experiment and wanted to give back to the world as a thank you for its “overwhelming support.” Other modern fonts inspired him, and he wanted something minimal yet unique. The type is free for both personal and commercial use. He only asks you to let him know how you used it. 

What Does the Font Imply?

Anders font has a modern design. It reminds you of a futuristic movie or a neon sign. Unlike script fonts, such as Bromello, Anders has straight lines with sharp edges. In various interviews, Watkins advises his fans to “be bold” and “take risks.” The font has a grab-the-world and never-miss-out feel to it, speaking directly to this philosophy.

The font works best for projects and companies with a hip, fun vibe. It wouldn’t do as well in more traditional settings. That’s OK, as there are plenty of fonts with a more conventional feel. Note the long, thin lines of the letters and the stark juxtaposition of the angles. You’ll find straight lines and no curves. The letter “A,” for example, has a point at the top.

Although you will find semicircles for letters, such as D and R, the movement from horizontal to vertical is stark. Note the straight lines on the bottom part of the letter R rather than a curved section. 

Where It’s Commonly Found and Used

Anders has a more casual than formal feel to it. It works great for posters, film credits and websites. It would do equally well as part of a logo. Although a search on FontReach for Anders found zero results, it doesn’t account for usage as part of an image. On one site, Anders font was downloaded 17,545 times. Clearly, a variety of designers download and use Anders for a range of projects. You are most likely to see this unique font in a header on a website. However, it also scales nicely for print design, and you might see it on a poster or announcement. Watkins works on commercial feature films, so it isn’t surprising it might work well as part of a movie title. 

What Should It Be Used As?

The simple lines of Anders font make it suitable for larger projects, such as billboards and outdoor signs. You could use Anders as the letters for a store sign or an outdoor banner. Geometric styles are less suitable for smaller pieces, such as an event invitation or postcard-sized ad. Even though the lines translate well on a smaller scale, the height of the letters makes them cumbersome in small spaces. It’s best to go with something less geometric for small print projects.

Save Anders for larger sizes where the user can step back and take in the design. Because it is a modern font, you’ll want to reserve its use to projects calling for a more contemporary look. One example of where you might use Anders font is a new fusion cuisine restaurant. Tech startups would also benefit from a logo created in this font. Use it in a website header when you want a look resonating with Gen-Zers.

How Do Audiences Perceive Anders?

Anders’s clean, geometric structure gives off a sense of modernism and minimalism that appeals to contemporary audiences. Its sharp angles and straight lines are similar to the design movements of the 20th century, where simplicity and clarity are prominent. 

When people see Anders, they often perceive it as professional and forward-thinking. Therefore, it’s a favorite among brands and designers because it conveys them as innovative and sleek. 

The font is, in general, excellent at catching the viewer’s attention without being overbearing. 

Because it has a slender and unique character, Anders makes it eye-catching. Yet, it’s also versatile because it is useful for various brands. For instance, it could fit well on a fashion blog or a tech company to showcase innovativeness.

Its minimalistic design also creates a universal appeal, so it resonates with various audiences of different demographics. 

How Anders Compares to Other Fonts

Numerous fonts exist in the world. That’s why it’s important to compare one to another to see how they pair up in designs, as well as whether one would be a better choice than the other. Here’s an overview of how Anders compares to some of the most popular fonts:

• Didot: Didot is a neoclassical serif typeface distinguished by high contrast between its thick and thin strokes. Therefore, it’s an elegant font with a refined appearance — whereas Anders appears more modern and contemporary. In essence, Didot is suitable for sophisticated and luxurious brands.
• Garamond: This classic old-style serif font is known for its timeless beauty and readability. Garamond reflects tradition and literary elegance. In comparison, Anders is the opposite with its sleek, geometric style.
• Futura: Futura is a popular geometric sans-serif that shares some similarities with Anders. Both fonts are clean and unembellished, capturing a modern style. Yet, Futura has a more uniform appearance, while Anders leans toward a sharper, more angular design.
• Helvetica: Helvetica is often recognized as a neutral, versatile typeface. Although it has a plain, straightforward style, it’s a go-to font for countless designs. 
• Verdana: Verdana was designed specifically for readability. With its wide letterforms and generous spacing, it ensures legibility even at small sizes. Its open and airy design has made it a staple for web content, while Anders’ geometric influences offer a tighter, sharper appearance. 
• Proxima Nova: Proxima Nova is another geometric sans-serif that is friendly and functional. It’s a favorite among designers for its versatility and clean look. However, Anders’ geometric traits convey a stricter adherence to minimalist principles. 

Best Font Pairings With Anders

If you plan to use Anders as part of your designs, here are some of the fonts it pairs best with:

• Roboto: Robot is a simple, neutral sans-serif typeface. It pairs well with Anders because it’s similar to its geometric characterization but does not overpower Anders’ stylization.
• Lato: Lato has a warmer, more rounded letterform. This creates a balanced pairing where Lato’s organic and approachable qualities complement Anders’ sharp, geometric precision.
• Open Sans: Open Sans is another neutral and clean font. Because Anders is unique and stylish, the two pair well and create a cohesive look.
• Montserrat: Montserrat and Anders are like kindred spirits, as the pairing brings Anders’ minimalist angles with Montserrat’s balanced character forms.
• Source Sans Pro: Source Sans Pro is another clean and legible font that’s subtle and professional. Therefore, it supports the bolder, geometric presence of Anders. When paired, Anders grabs attention with its distinct style, while Source Sans Pro provides a smooth reading experience.

Geometric Fonts in Your Repertoire

Anders is a unique font created by a young genius in the industry. Watkins is known for his work ethic. He even put aside the typical college student socializing to work on his side projects outside of classroom hours. Having a geometric font to turn to when you need some extra oomph for your designs makes smart business sense. Even if you don’t have an occasion to use Anders font today, keep it on the backburner for the future.  

The Font Series Guide: Introduction
Chapter 1: 15 Google Fonts You Should Be Using
Chapter 2: Times New Roman
Chapter 3: Roboto
Chapter 4: Georgia
Chapter 5: Verdana
Chapter 6: Helvetica
Chapter 7: Comic Sans
Chapter 8: Didot
Chapter 9: Arial
Chapter 10: Tahoma
Chapter 11: Garamond
Chapter 12: Century Gothic
Chapter 13: Brody
Chapter 14: Bromello
Chapter 15: Savoy
Chapter 16: Athene
Chapter 17: Calibri
Chapter 18: Proxima Nova
Chapter 19: Anders
Chapter 20: Monthoers
Chapter 21: Gotham