First released in 1896, Akzidenz-Grotesk has served as the design foundation for many contemporary sans serif faces. Akzidenz-Grotesk Next from Berthold maintains many of the hand-drawn idiosyncrasies of the original while taking advantage of the benefits of digital technology. While similar to the designs that followed in its footsteps, Akzidenz-Grotesk and its newest improved revival, Akzidenz-Grotesk Next, has a soft, round, quality to its lowercase that is missing from most of the designs that modeled themselves after it. The result is that the original family is a friendlier, more “human,” design than the later likenesses.