Typography can be a beautiful thing — words positioned strategically on a page; the way letterforms take shape; varying weights on a beautifully designed typeface… and who can overlook the sweeping, magnificent curves and lines of the ampersand?
Below are 30+ beautifully designed ampersands that not only serves as an “and per se” symbol, but as a mesmerizing design element on its own. The ampersands below are both from free and paid fonts sites and foundries, with links. NOTE: (*) indicates non-free fonts.
What is your favorite ampersand?
Thanks for this, that Saracen is beautiful.
Great list.
+1 for Cream Puff
Great post! Especially like Bickham script pro, really nice one.
Really great collection of ampersands – the bickham script pro one is almost mesmerizing with the way it plays with perspective in flat black. Also, it’s probably worth mentioning House Industries if you ‘re rounding up ampersands (http://www.houseind.com/clothing/mens/ , http://www.houseind.com/objects/accessories/castaluminumampersand , http://www.houseind.com/objects/furnishings/largeampersandpillow)
Great Collection. Ampersands always seem to take a typeface one step further if done correctly.
I’m torn between the Goudy Old Style and that magnificent Mido.
Awesome post #&
[...] The Mesmerizing Curves of Ampersands | The Design Cubicle Curves of the Ampersand – So Beautiful – Good Article (tags: typography design fonts &) [...]
Great concept for a post – who would ever have thought?
Hey Brian,
Cool post. Bernhard Modern, Eurostile and Insignia are also fun. jeff
Hey,
If you love ampersands, check out my friend’s ampersand & type jewelry! (my fave ampersand- 3rd pic down… don’t know what typeface it is!)
http://berdene.com/craft/flaunt-your-font-jewellery
She crafts the most beautiful, nerdy, type jewelry!
Great show case, thanks for that.. isn’t mido just gorgeous? And one of the best examples of the ampersands ‘et’ origins i’ve seen.. great great list! Thanks :)
Love, love, LOVE Bickham Script Pro! Effortless – flows perfectly.
Saracen is new to me… gotta check out the family now.
Fun post! :)
i <3 the Ampersands from Snell Roundhouse, Poetica, and (gasp) Garamond!
Nice selection of ampersands. This article reminded me a lot of one I read a while ago on Smashing Magazine: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/08/15/ampersands-with-attitude/
Kewl post
I liked these..fontesque,monotype corsivaGoudy Old Style.
Really cool stuff….. :)
Ah, this was so relaxing to read! I downloaded that Mido font, it looks very neat.
Nice…but the ultra nice is the Bickham Pro…very sexy sweepy.
[...] Uiteraard altijd een goeie post. Een lijst met ampersands. check hier. [...]
The monotype corsiva is amazing!
i found one cute ampersand at a local coffee shop but i could not tell what typeface is it!
http://romouzesque.tumblr.com/post/76882810/one-cute-ampersand-used-in-the-logo-of-a-local
Beautiful !
Yes! Ampersands are beauty, aren’t they? Thanks for this awesome post. <3
+1 for Adorable (love the unconnected bottom loop)
+1 for Bickham
All wonderful examples of one of my favorite glyphs.
What about good old Cochin?
http://bit.ly/WCLrS
I love that flourish on the italicized ampersand.
[...] Ampersand + font link. Why? ‘Cause they’re pretty. [...]
[...] some eye candy! Gotta love these ampersands Check out The Mesmerizing Curves of Ampersands for some nice free and commercial fonts, previewed simply by an [...]
[...] This guy is even mesmerised by them. [...]
Nice post! I like sovoye let and didot HTF light italic. What do you think of the ampersand we used in the logo on this site? http://www.dodsonhooks.com
The CliffordNine one is ace – i love the way it resembles the latin Et from which the ampersand is dervied. I think the CliffordEighteen one is a bit over-done though, TBH. The Guanine one is nice, and I’m a sucker for an elegant straight-up serif, so the Baskerville is also pretty pleasing to my eye.
excellent!
here’s some more ampersand love in the form of a tee shirt
[...] and Commercial Fonts The Mesmerizing Curves of Ampersands30+ beautifully designed ampersands that not only serves as an “and per se” symbol, but as a [...]
[...] The Mesmerizing Curves of Ampersands (tags: design typography) [...]
Adorable looks like a straight copy of ITC Isadora
[...] The Mesmerizing Curves of AmpersandsBrian is right when he says, “Typography can be a beautiful thing.” The ampersand can be used to add so much character to typographic elements. Check out this list of 30 spectacular examples of ampersands. [...]
I love the ampersands, Brian! Typeface is a beautiful thing and without careful thought and discretion of use, some people turn it into a horrible thing like Microsoft Publisher junkies. The ampersands here range from delicate strokes to strong slab serifed forms. I’m very glad you posted a blog on this topic. Thanks.
@nickwichman
Ah I love the Bickham Script Pro one! Unique post :)
Jacob,
Glad you enjoyed the post.
These are some gorgeous examples! I love Buffet Script but that font doesn’t seem to be free anymore.
If you thought that was hardcore, you should see italic ampersands. They’re erotic :P
I never realized how uniquely different each typeface’s ampersands are. Very unique showcase. Love it!
@Visthetic
Kewl post
I liked these..fontesque,monotype corsivaGoudy Old Style.
Yea, some good lookers there and some odd ones too but where is the lower case ampersand? We use it often enough but I haven’t found one in any font, not even in the two I know of that include the interrobang. There is a very pretty one of those in Palatino Linotype. Clean and simple.
I went from here to the Wikipedia article and it mentions what I think of as the lower case ampersand as a sloppy form. Sloppy or not a lower case ampersand in computer fonts with less formality about its use would be very useful in mirroring handwriting practice.
[...] a chord with me. I knew immediately that I would have to follow Cederholm’s lead and add some ampersand loving1 to the [...]
Trajan Pro and adorable i liked most. Very nice post. Thanks buddy. It will help me in designing my new site :)
I love saracen !!
Nathaniel – Tee Design
Hey Brian, thanks for this list—some of these are just gorgeous, and it’s surprising how often a font I’m using will let down the team with a mediocre ampersand. Just thought I’d let you know that a couple of the fonts you have marked as free are actually commercial: Harrington ($40) and Buffet Script ($99). Also, the Bradlo Sans download link is broken, but from what Google says it commercial as well. And the download link for Mido is broken; but you can get it from Font Squirrel instead: http://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/Mido
Regards,
Bnonn
I really, really like brackets. I’m sure there isn’t much variation in bracket styling (for obvious reasons), but if you could make a post on unique brackets and slants I’d appreciate it.
Thanks!
Great collection. I love ampersand so much that I end up using that instead of ‘and’. And perfect for twitter use too!
Cool, I especially like the Cooper Black and Mido
Amazing list :D just download some free fonts to try ::D