Handel Gothic is a geometricsans-serif typeface designed in 1965 by Donald J. Handel (1936–2002), who worked for the graphic designer Saul Bass.[1]
Handel Gothic was an instant success when first released. The typeface was originally distributed in film format by FotoStar and was reissued in the 1980s by Robert Trogman.
The Elsner+Flake, Linotype and URW++ versions use a curved leg on uppercase R (like that of Helvetica), a horizontal tail on the uppercase Q (like that of Univers), a curved lower leg on the lowercase k, and a trident-like lowercase w.[2]
The Bitstream and Tilde SIA versions, however, use a thicker 1, a straight leg on the uppercase R (like that of Akzidenz-Grotesk), a straight lower leg on the lowercase k, and a double-v w.
Thai type designer Anupap Jaichumnan designed the Flatory typeface, which also was inspired from the Handel Gothic typeface; it is available in four versions (sans-serif, serif, slab serif, high-contrast sans-serif).[4]
The original release includes 5 fonts in 5 weights. OpenType features include fractions, ligatures, ordinals, stylistic alternates and subscript/superscript. Italic versions of the fonts were introduced with release of ITC Handel Gothic Pro.
ITC Handel Gothic Pro (2010)
It is a version of ITC Handel Gothic with complementary italic designs, support of Adobe Central Europe character set, addition of ligatures and alternate characters.[5][6]
Additional OpenType features include localized forms, stylistic set 1.
ITC Handel Gothic Arabic (2015)
It is a version of ITC Handel Gothic for Arabic, Persian and Urdu languages, designed by Nadine Chahine of Monotype Imaging, based on Kufic script.[7]
The font family includes 5 fonts in 5 weights, without italics.
URW++ Handel Slab (2009)
A slab-serif counterpart to URW++ Handel Gothic with three weights (Light, Medium, Bold) and obliques styles to complement them.[8]
Corporate identity uses
343 Industries, the current developer of the Halovideo game franchise, have used Handel Gothic in their logo since their first game, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, released in 2011.[9][10] This follows the font being used in the first game in the Halo series, Halo: Combat Evolved (in menus in-game, and in the game's instruction manual),[11] which was developed by Bungie and released in 2001.
Disney – The Walt Disney Company used Handel Gothic in the logo of The Disney Channel from 1983 to 1986. The font was also used on the Walt Disney Home Video logo Neon Mickey from 1981 to 1986 and the clamshells from Walt Disney Home Video usually from 1980 to early 1984. Additionally, it was featured on the 1971 to 1996 Walt Disney World logo with a Mickey silhouette within an oversized "D", as well as on signage within EPCOT Center prior to refurbishments.
ERGO Grips - Currently uses Handel Gothic in its logo
Mega (Chilean TV channel) – used Handel Gothic for its news division in the early 2000s. Additionally, his newscast program Meganoticias used Handel Gothic in their logo from 2000 until 2010.
Huawei, logo font Handel Gothic, logo 2006 to 2018.
United Airlines – In 1973 Saul Bass developed the United logo that featured a customized red and blue "Double U" logo and underneath Handel Gothic logotype.[19]
Univision – Has used the font for its graphics packages during the early 2000s.
University of Oregon uses a modified form of Handel Gothic for its logo and branding.
Volvo – has used the font since 1974. Initially, it was used for the model badges on its cars, but this application ceased in the early 1980s when it began to be used for the instrument panel and dashboard graphics, where it has been applied ever since.
Viacom – The second incarnation of Viacom’s logo used this font, said incarnation lasted from 2005-2019.
WWF SmackDown! used it for the first two years of the show, as the nameplate font for wrestlers, commentators and other various graphics from 1999 to 2001.
ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) – German national public television broadcaster's logo.[20]
Sony Ericsson used this font in own logo in 2001–2011
