Typography

Typography is an important and high-visibility part of the MIT brand. Our typography emphasizes clarity and legibility, and reinforces the brand’s key elements.

We suggest using our brand typefaces to further reinforce the connection to MIT and help create a unified look and feel. These typefaces are available to the MIT community at no cost.

Neue Haas Grotesk

MIT’s primary typeface is Neue Haas Grotesk, also referred to as NHG. Designed in the late 1950s, it became extremely popular around the world and was seen by many as a symbol of modernist graphic design. The typeface was later renamed Helvetica. 

Due to its immense popularity, many versions of Helvetica – some of them poorly crafted digital interpretations – have been developed over the years. The version of Neue Haas Grotesk used for the MIT brand is not the same as today’s Helvetica: it is a sophisticated digital revival of the original Helvetica design that reflects the quality and fidelity of its original shapes. 

We strongly recommend using NHG for all professionally designed communications. For internal communications, such as MS Word docs and PowerPoint presentations, Helvetica can be used as an alternative.

The MIT community can access Neue Haas Grotesk through Adobe Fonts.

The Neue Haas Grotesk typeface.

NHG Text vs. Display

To optimize its appearance and readability within various size ranges, there are two variations of NHG available: Display and Text.

Neue Haas Grotesk Display font in four different styles.

NHG Display styles

Digital use: larger than 20 px
Print use: larger than 16 pt

Neue Haas Grotesk Text font examples in six different styles.

NHG Text styles

Digital use: 20 px and below
Print use: 16 pt and below

At large sizes, NHG looks best with tight leading, which gives the typography greater impact. As a rough guide, leading should fall somewhere between 85% and 100% of the type size. Use this range as a starting point, but always optimize based on the application.

Example of setting a headline with Neue Haas Grotesk.

Smaller text tends to require more leading than headline typography. As a rough guide, leading should fall somewhere between 100% and 125% of the type size. Use this range as a starting point, but always optimize based on the application.

Example using Neue Haas Grotesk as body copy.

Pairing typography with NHG

Neue Haas Grotesk can be effectively paired with several other typefaces, and works well in both a leading and supporting role. The key is to choose a companion typeface that provides sufficient stylistic contrast.

Example using Neue Haas Grotesk as a title in a leading role.
Example using Neue Haas Grotesk as body copy in supporting role.

Secondary typefaces

There are several text and headline typefaces that work well with Neue Haas Grotesk. These typefaces may be used in whatever weight and style is appropriate to your communications. All of them are available to the MIT community through Adobe Fonts or Google Fonts.

When choosing typefaces, be sure to consider:

  • Legibility and readability: Pick a font that is clear and easy to read for its intended application.
  • Personality: Select a typeface that aligns with your communications goals and conveys the right message.
  • Design context: Ensure that your typeface choices work well with other design elements included in your communications.

 

Headline typefaces

Headline typeface: Roboto Serif
Headline typeface: Job Clarendon
Headline typeface: Shift
Typeface: Obviously

Text typefaces

Text typeface: Roboto Serif
Text typeface: Sabon
Text typeface: Roboto Mono
Text typeface: Shift

How to access MIT’s typefaces

MIT’s typefaces are available to the MIT community at no cost. MIT has an Adobe Creative Cloud enterprise license for staff, faculty, and students. Note that when you activate Adobe Fonts, they become available on all of your desktop apps, not just Adobe products.

Access through Adobe Fonts:

  • Neue Haas Grotesk
  • Job Clarendon
  • Obviously
  • Sabon
  • Shift 

How to activate:

  1. Open the Creative Cloud desktop app. (Select the Creative Cloud icon in your Windows taskbar or macOS menu bar.)
    Adobe Creative Cloud icon.
  2. Click Manage fonts in the left sidebar.
  3. Click Browse more fonts at the top right.
  4. You’ll be prompted to log in to the Adobe website.
  5. Search for the font and click the Add Family button.
  6. In the Manage fonts in the Creative Cloud app pop-up window, click the Open app button.
  7. Once back in the app, select Install family.

See the Getting and Using Fonts section of Adobe’s user guide if you have questions.

Affiliates are not covered by MIT’s Creative Cloud license. Departments, labs, and centers can purchase a license for an affiliate.

Free access through Google Fonts:

  • Roboto

How to access:

  1. Go to Google Fonts.
  2. Click the Roboto fonts you want to install.
  3. Click the Download family button at the top right of the page.
  4. Open the downloaded .zip file, which contains a folder with fonts.
  5. In the folder, select all .tff font files.
  6. On Mac, double-click the selection and click the Install Font button in Font Book. On Windows, right-click the selection, choose Open in the context menu, click Install within each window, and then close. 
  7. Restart your computer if the fonts do not appear in your software immediately.
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