Looking for the crème de la crème of sans serifs? Here are the top five picks from our features

A strong typographic system is essential for any brand identity, as it anchors the brand’s personality and serves as a key pillar of communication. Among the various styles, sans serifs, in particular, are celebrated for their clean lines and modern aesthetic, making them an ideal choice for both digital and print applications where clarity and simplicity are crucial. In the many identities we’ve featured, a handful of studio-favourite typefaces have emerged, consistently standing out across various industries and applications. Have you noticed them as well? To make it easier for you, we’ve curated a shortlist of the most beloved sans serif typefaces that have continuously captured attention and delivered exceptional results. Here are the top five. How could we not start with Neue Haas Grotesk? This iconic neo-grotesque typeface is one of the seminal sans serifs, winning many hearts of studios over its later, modified version, Helvetica. Creatives, such as CODEA’s Head of Strategy Clara Rodés, cite its more ‘authentic’ feel as the key reason they chose it to set UCLG’s Pact for the Future. Neue Haas Grotesk features more generous spacing, nuanced terminal cuts, and greater letter height variation. In their identity and art direction for Pact for the Future, Codea chose Neue Haas Grotesk as the hero typeface for its universality and functionality. “We preferred Neue Haas Grotesk over Helvetica because we believe it retains a warmth in its forms that Helvetica has lost over the years, giving it a touch of approachability,” notes Rodés. “Since the pact is a statement, we wanted to endow it with typographic strength.”