Help me make a decision

[hmpf]

Which of these two should I buy?

Officina Sans

Avenir

(ETA: broken links fixed)

(ETA: money says: Officina. It's cheaper. *g*)

Comments

[kimboosan.livejournal.com]

Ah, hate to say that I think that Avenir is a bit more sophisticated. But eh, money is always the bottom line. Officina isn't ugly or anything, it is nice and solid, so I don't think you can go wrong with it. :)

I totally *love* Avenir.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, though... I've read plenty of statements according to which Avenir is considered 'boring', whereas Officina seems to get high praise. I suppose it's closer to today's typographical sensibility. Or something. In a relatively recent ranking Officina was ranked among the top ten, whereas Avenir was at 65 or so (but still included in 'the best 100').

I do like both of them, although I think that Avenir is more elegant. Officina seems more like a workhorse of a typeface. *g*

I'm wondering which of the two fits me better...

[jam-wired.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I was late in responding to the last post! I definitely like Avenir better. Officina is kind of heavy and doesn't look quite as professional.

I LOVE Proxima Nova, and keep waiting for a reason to buy it; it's a newer typeface (2005) modeled after Proxima Sans, but more refined: http://www.fontshop.de/fontdetails.htm?fontProductPK=288240954480032

You could also use Proxima Sans: http://www.fontshop.de/fontdetails.htm?fontProductPK=288240938310896

Futura (may be even more overused than Avenir): http://www.fontshop.de/fontdetails.htm?fontProductPK=288357342380400

I used to use Univers on my resume, but may be a bit too modern for your liking: http://www.fontshop.de/fontdetails.htm?fontProductPK=288357351236208

There's always Frutiger (which may be another overused font): http://www.fontshop.de/fontdetails.htm?fontProductPK=288357343991408

I see now why they're so expensive (German versions). I'm not sure if that site has a "more fonts like this" option, but MyFonts.com does, and you could find something you like there, then see if FontsShop has it. :)

Thanks!

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

I actually already knew most of those, except for Proxima/Proxima Sans. (I think I have the potential to become a bit of a typeface nerd: I have actually read up on the history of some of these... And I already have a favourite typeface designer - Adrian Frutiger, of course. *g*)

I'd be interested in a few more recs for recent typefaces. It's always easier for a newbie to find the classics than the interesting new stuff. I found some 'best of [year]' lists, but a lot of the stuff on those was not 'neutral' enough for something like a job application.

Errgh. This sounds ungrateful.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

That wasn't intended. I appreciate your help very much!

Oh damn, it's half past three a.m. again. Right. Need to go to bed now. :-(

Re: Errgh. This sounds ungrateful.

[jam-wired.livejournal.com]

Haha, I didn't think so. Most non-designers in America use Times New Roman (gag), so it was refreshing to find some different options. I may have to redesign my freelance collateral. Go to bed!

Re: Thanks!

[jam-wired.livejournal.com]

You're going to make me exercise my unused typography skills. Ok, you'll probably know some of these already, but here is a run-down. :)

These are older, which I'm more familiar with (and you probably know!):
Akzidenz Grotesk
Lucida Sans
Gill Sans
Myriad

I did a search and here are some newer sans typefaces that look nice or have gotten acclaim in the design community fairly recently. I put the foundry beside the typeface.
Museo Sans, exljbris
Breuer Text, TypeTrust
Humanist 777, Bitstream
Oslo, Wilton Foundry
Apertura, BetaType
Le Monde Sans, Porchez
Parisine Std, Porchez
Graublau Sans Pro, FDI
Exemplar Pro, PSY/OPS (may be too ornate)
Aaux, T-26

I think I'm typefaced out. :P

Awesome!

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

Will research these tonight. :-)

(I think I did the credits for my Knytt Stories level in Lucida Sans...)

[space-oddity-75.livejournal.com]

Nice fonts! I like Avenir better, but Officina is good, too.

Pardon my ignorance, but why should you write your resume using a specific font like this? Is it because you like it and think it would be more professional than using a boring Times New Roman, or because there's some other reason dictated by the German job market?

This question is not meant to criticize your choices, mind you, but only to understand your situation a bit better. Here in Italy it would be unthinkable to use a CV that's not printed in Times New Roman or similar, because it would look 'odd' (most people use the Europass CV form nowadays, which is very standardized) and would print out funny if the printer has compatibility problems with the chosen font (this happens more often than you think).

Mainly because I'm supposed to be a designer. *g*

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for a font mainly for those applications that will be for jobs that may involve some design-related skills.

Re: Mainly because I'm supposed to be a designer. *g*

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

Addendum: my most recent training, of course, was not as a designer, and I'm certainly not a graphic designer. But my goldsmith's training involved fairly extensive 'general' design training, three years of it, and with my other main skills being writing-related, I'm a reasonable fit for some jobs involving things like, say, preparing brochures for publication and so on. So I figure my application papers should fit the part.

Re: Mainly because I'm supposed to be a designer. *g*

[space-oddity-75.livejournal.com]

Heee, I know that (and it's a good reason for wanting a good-looking CV)! I was just asking this because my best friend is a designer too, and when I helped him with his CV, he asked me to use the Times New Roman font in spite of the fact he was looking for a creative job. It's probably just an Italian thing that everybody wants to use the Europass form for their CV. The more standardized, the better (at least here). Also, in Italy it's considered bad taste to put your photo on your CV, while I understand that in the rest of Europe it's a pretty standard feature in a resume. What can I say? We are strange! ;)

Anyway,I think the Avenir is a great-looking font, so you should go for it, if you really like it! :)

Maybe I should look for a job in Italy!

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it would save me a lot of headaches! *g*

The photo is a *must* here. I hate that - my employer should care more about my skills than about my looks, IMO! But apparently some do use photos for a first round of screening. And the nicer and more sympathetic you look, the greater your chances people will actually proceed to look at your C.V... *sigh*

I think the default typeface for applications is Arial here (according to DIN norms, which aren't entirely binding, though), so using another sans serif one won't be *that* far from the standard. It won't be saying 'Look at how UNIQUE I am!!!'; it will just show that I have a bit of an eye for aesthetics etc. I hope.

Re: Maybe I should look for a job in Italy!

[space-oddity-75.livejournal.com]

I shudder at the thought of having to put a photo on my CV if I were looking for a job abroad! I'm not really photogenic and hate to be judged for my looks rather than my skills, so I understand you totally.

Does anyone photoshop their pic heavily before putting it in a resume? You could do that, if you're unhappy with your picture choice, LOL! Add makeup & big boobies and the job is yours! I'm sure many Italian girls would do that, believe me. *g*

No need to add big boobies...

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

I got plenty. ;-)

But they're not visible in the type of photo usually used for applications. *g*

I think they mostly try to gauge your character from the photo - so it's important you look friendly, open, trustworthy, and competent, and so on. Which is very difficult for me (in a photo), and impossible to achieve when faced with a professional photographer.

Completely OT, but: did you read the nuclear fic? Any ideas how to de-crazify Sam? ;-)(Got time for a chat sometime next week? This week is bad with me, but next week I'm mostly free.)

Re: No need to add big boobies...

[space-oddity-75.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. I read it a few nights ago and found it really good. Still don't know how to de-crazify Sam, though. He's too much of an idiot for me to help him that easily... *g*

No time for chatting until mid-September for me, sadly. Next week I have to go to Barcelona and then to Amsterdam (business trip + trade fair respectively), so I guess we'll have to reschedule until after Sept. 15th, if it's okay for you.

Re: Mainly because I'm supposed to be a designer. *g*

[jazzymegster.livejournal.com]

Also, in Italy it's considered bad taste to put your photo on your CV

That's interesting to know! I was kind of fazed when hmpf mentioned it, because we don't do that in the UK, either, and you're told - as far as I remember - to avoid jobs that ask for a photo because they're totally going to judge you on what you look like (even though they shouldn't).

Photos

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

Right, that settles it, I'm moving to Britain. *g*

I keep annoying my friends and relations here because I'm wont to break into these sudden rants about the stupid German custom of including photos in your job applications. I keep telling them that it's highly unfair (not so much for me, really, but certainly for someone like my Muslim friend who wears a headscarf and is therefore automatically unpopular with employers as soon as they see her picture), and they keep coming up with all kinds of reasons why it 'makes sense' to have a picture.

Re: Photos

[jazzymegster.livejournal.com]

That's exactly why we don't do it over here. Although apparently potential employers will judge you off your name alone in some cases, which they shouldn't (one of my friends is married to an Arab, and he had a hard time finding work because of that very reason).