Official UMass Typefaces
The three primary UMass Amherst typefaces are Minion Pro (serif), Frutiger or Frutiger Neue (sans serif), Lyon Text, and Lyon Display (serif). While there are three primary typefaces, only two (Minion Pro and Frutiger) are designated official university fonts. They are suitable for a wide range of reproduction methods and communication materials and may be purchased online at Fonts.com™ (Frutiger) and Commercial Type (Lyon.)
University Relations has purchased licenses for a limited number of sets of the official university fonts. They are being distributed free of charge to employees who are directly involved in the creation of marketing and communication materials. All others, including external consultants, may purchase the font directly. Please contact universitymarcom@umass.edu for more information.
Serif
Serif fonts include small, decorative embellishments to the basic form of a character. The serif font for UMass Amherst is Minion Pro. It has both an elegant and functional design. It is classical without feeling stuffy or staid.
Minion Pro can be used for headlines, body copy, and formal applications.
Sans Serif
Sans serif fonts lack serifs, so that the letterform stands unadorned. The sans serif font for UMass Amherst is Frutiger 45 and Frutiger Neue. Each font's organic, clean lines make it easily legible and modern without feeling cold.
Frutiger 45 and Frutiger Neue can be used for subheads, bold copy, and digital copy.
Official UMass Digital/System Fonts
Using the official UMass web fonts will ensure that your final product follows UMass Amherst brand guidelines.
Open Sans and Lora are the official university fonts because of their clean lines and readability. They have versatile weights and styles available and they complement the UMass print typefaces.
Open Sans and Lora fonts are licensed through Google and free to use.
Sans Serif
Open Sans is a clean and modern sans serif typeface especially designed for legibility across print, web, and mobile interfaces.
It should be used for body text, headings, and main navigation.
Serif
Lora is a well-balanced contemporary serif typeface. Technically Lora is optimized for screen appearance, and works equally well in print.
It should primarily be used for school, college and core unit site name headers.
It can also be used for captions and pull quotes.
Lora should NOT be used for body text or main navigation.
CSS Font Families
Suggested CSS font declarations for web are:
Sans serif typeface in body copy: Font-family: Open Sans, Helvetica, and Arial; sans serif
Serif typeface (for acceptable uses): Font-family: Lora and Times New Roman; serif
Font Size for Web
Website typography should be globally defined in the <body> as font size:100%. This is the default behavior for web browsers and does not need to be adjusted unless defined as something other than 100% in the site's CSS. When styling individual elements use "em" for sizing, instead of "px" to promote content accessibility.
Suggested minimum font sizes:
<h1> 2em
<h2> 1.6em
<h3> 1.3em
<h4> 1.1em
<p> 1em
Above all, make the site READABLE. The absolute minimum "em" size is .8em at 100%. For larger displays it may be necessary to increase the size of fonts to compensate for longer line lengths and to increase contrast between elements.
