Jovica Veljović’s ITC Esprit® typeface family, first drawn in 1985, blends classic proportions with the grace and charm of calligraphic lettering. The character shapes beautifully combine traditional letterforms with distinctive refinements.
For the ITC New Esprit™ designs Veljović worked from the basic letterforms of his original typeface to create two separate versions: one for improved text composition and the other specifically for display typography. “In the beginning all I wanted to do was expand the kerning pairs and clean up a few characters,” Veljović recalls, “but I soon realized that some characters could benefit by more refined shapes and proportions. By the time I was done, I had worked on just about every character in the original design.”
In both new versions of ITC Esprit, character bowls are animated; the transition from straight to curved strokes is handled with flair and verve; and individual letters like the italic ‘g’ and the roman ‘a’ are iconic for this typeface. Yet the overall tone of the design is harmonious, and its character symmetry creates a timeless elegance.
Somewhat unusual for a serifed typeface, the italic is more restrained than the roman. A calligrapher’s hand is present and obvious; however, its touch is quiet and softened. The roman of ITC New Esprit is spirited; the italic, sophisticated. Each complements the other.
In the text designs, an ample lowercase x-height, sturdy serifs and moderate contrast in stroke weight combine to make ITC New Esprit an excellent choice for a variety of projects. To ensure optimum performance at small sizes, the text designs also have slightly wide proportions and sturdy thin strokes, maximizing readability.
