Industry: Design

Amplitude Collection

Agate logic scaled into a full display and text system

Amplitude is an extensive sans serif series by Christian Schwartz, first released by Font Bureau in 2003 and now available through Commercial Type's Vault. The design draws on agate type conventions—anticipating ink spread and maintaining legibility under poor printing conditions. Deep angled cuts serve readability at small sizes while adding visual character at display scales. A 2025 renovation with Benjamin Tuttle added italics across all styles.

Set in Amplitude

Insights

Schwartz was drawn to the visual character of agate type's purely functional ink-spread compensations, using them as the design's conceptual basis.
Deep angled cuts perform a dual role: preserving legibility at small sizes and adding character at large ones.
The 2025 renovation by Benjamin Tuttle added italics across all styles.