Aktuell
TYPE BY · Thomas Thiemich · 2015
A broad-nib transitional serif by Thomas Thiemich, originally commissioned for the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig and rooted in the DDR type tradition.
About
Commissioned in 2015 by Leipzig design agency Lamm & Kirch for HGB's corporate identity, Aktuell draws on the DDR-era Timeless and sits within a lineage that includes Akzidenz Grotesque BQ and the East German foundry VEB Typoart. Its short ascenders and descenders produce compact text columns with an even colour, making it well suited to space-conscious screen environments. Five weights with matching italics are supported by a thorough OpenType feature set including oldstyle figures, fractions, case-sensitive forms and extensive ligatures.
Classification
Based on a traditional broad-nib contrast with roots in DDR-era type design, particularly Timeless (a DDR variant of Times New Roman), placing it firmly in the transitional serif category.