Friday, January 20, 2017

WOODY ALLEN AND THE WINDSOR FONT | Fetish or Brand Identity?

White Windsor typeface on black
Woody Allen’s unique typographic style is entirely praiseworthy. His white type on black opening titles rolling on old jazz or classical music became a part of Woody Allen brand, just like his neurotic dialogues and “his black-rimmed glasses” are.
WINDSOR is an unusual design cut by Stephenson Blake in 1905. WINDSOR is a bold face with heavy rounded serifs and strong diagonal stress. Capitals M and W are widely splayed, P and R have very large upper bowls. The Lowercase a h m and n of the WINDSOR font have angled right hand stems, e has an angled cross-stroke. The overall effect is one of friendliness and warmth. Use the WINDSOR font in advertising, on posters and for general display work.
How did Woody Allen chose this typeface? 
Woody Allen met Ed Benguiat, a “printer” in a New Jersey diner that they both would frequent in 1975. On one occasion Allen asked Benguiat what a good typeface was. Benguiat had an affinity for WINDSOR and suggested it to him that morning. He’s used it in every film since.

Annie Hall (1977) WINDSOR is there, in the largest size of all his titles.

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