Industry: Design

Brunel

Britain's answer to Bodoni and Didot

Brunel is an Anglo-tradition modern serif designed by Paul Barnes, positioned as the British counterpart to continental moderns such as Bodoni and Didot. Its origins trace to designs first cut for Elizabeth Caslon in the late eighteenth century. Commercial Type expanded the historical source into a range of weights and optical sizes, from roman to black and from text to hairline.

Set in Brunel

Insights

The family is structured across four optical size subfamilies — Text, Text Short, Deck, and Poster — plus a dedicated Hairline subfamily for the largest display sizes.
Barnes drew from designs originally cut for Elizabeth Caslon in the late eighteenth century.
Brunel was among the first releases in the Commercial Classics program, which is dedicated to reviving historical typefaces.