Alphan Typefaces

Countdown

Designed by Colin Brignall
© 1965 Esselete Letraset, Ltd.

Designed by Colin Brignall in 1965, this somewhat bizarre "computer style" typeface was used extensively on signage and warning stickers during the premiere season of Space: 1999. For Series 2, Countdown was abandoned in favor of a simpler and more legible typeface.






Data 70

Designed by Bob Newman
© 1970 Esselete Letraset, Ltd.

Though not used as extensively as Countdown, Data 70, a similarly bizarre typeface, can sometimes be seen throughout episodes of Series 1. It is principally visible on the identification numbers of the Alphan spacesuit chest and back packs, as well as on the "World Space Commission - Medical Authority" letterhead used by Dr. Helena Russell in the opening and closing scenes of Christopher Penfold's Space: 1999 classic, Dragon's Domain.






Futura Black
Designed by Josef Albers, 1926

Josef Albers drew this stencil sanserif form at the Bauhaus in 1926; Paul Renner and the Bauer design office made it into a typeface in 1929, and included it in the Futura series. Futura Black was originally intended to be the sole typeface used throughout the opening titles of Space: 1999, but when it became clear that some names were illegible in this typeface, it was retained only for the opening titles' This Episode caption. Rudi Gernreich's "Moon City" costumes credit appears in a typeface similar to Futura Black called Braggadocio in the episode Matter of Life and Death (thanks to James 'Kibo' Parry for spotting the right typeface). Click here to see an image of the non-standard credit. The series' opener, Breakaway, also differs from the finalized format in that the This Episode caption appears with a lowercase "t" and "e" ("this episode"), and the yellow text appears on a black background instead of the blue background later made standard. See the Alphan Graphics: Series 1 Titles page to compare the two versions.






Futura Medium
from the Bauer Foundry
Designed by Paul Renner, 1927

Futura Medium was used for opening credits during both seasons of Space: 1999. It is a sans serif typeface based on geometric shapes, and became an integral part of the Bauhaus movement of the 1930s. Form and function became the key concerns here, and unnecessary decoration was scorned. Issued by the Bauer Foundry in a wide range of weights and widths, Futura became a popular choice for text and display settings, and remains so to this day.

Eurostile Bold Extended
(also known as Microgramma)
from the Nebiolo Foundry
Designed by Aldo Novarese, A Butti

With the success of their 1952 titling typeface Microgamma, Novarese and Butti set out to design a complementary typeface that would also offer a lowercase character set. Eurostile was the end result of their efforts. Issued by the Nebiolo foundry, this rather square-shaped sans serif typeface became popular for display and advertising use, as well as computer text and display settings; and remains so to this day. Eurostile Bold Extended was used for text on Space: 1999's commlocks, moon base display screens ("Red Alert", "Human Decision Required", etc.), door panels text, emergency procedure stickers, and elsewhere.

	Countdown Designed by Colin Brignall © 1965 Esselete Letraset, Ltd. Designed by Colin Brignall in 1965, this somewhat bizarre "computer style" typeface was used extensively on signage and warning stickers during the premiere season of Space: 1999. For Series 2, Countdown was abandoned in favor of a simpler and more legible typeface.

	Data 70 Designed by Bob Newman © 1970 Esselete Letraset, Ltd. Though not used as extensively as Countdown, Data 70, a similarly bizarre typeface, can sometimes be seen throughout episodes of Series 1. It is principally visible on the identification numbers of the Alphan spacesuit chest and back packs, as well as on the "World Space Commission - Medical Authority" letterhead used by Dr. Helena Russell in the opening and closing scenes of Christopher Penfold's Space: 1999 classic, Dragon's Domain.

	Futura Black Designed by Josef Albers, 1926 Josef Albers drew this stencil sanserif form at the Bauhaus in 1926; Paul Renner and the Bauer design office made it into a typeface in 1929, and included it in the Futura series. Futura Black was originally intended to be the sole typeface used throughout the opening titles of Space: 1999, but when it became clear that some names were illegible in this typeface, it was retained only for the opening titles' This Episode caption. Rudi Gernreich's "Moon City" costumes credit appears in a typeface similar to Futura Black called Braggadocio in the episode Matter of Life and Death (thanks to James 'Kibo' Parry for spotting the right typeface). Click here to see an image of the non-standard credit. The series' opener, Breakaway, also differs from the finalized format in that the This Episode caption appears with a lowercase "t" and "e" ("this episode"), and the yellow text appears on a black background instead of the blue background later made standard. See the Alphan Graphics: Series 1 Titles page to compare the two versions.

	Futura Medium from the Bauer Foundry Designed by Paul Renner, 1927 Futura Medium was used for opening credits during both seasons of Space: 1999. It is a sans serif typeface based on geometric shapes, and became an integral part of the Bauhaus movement of the 1930s. Form and function became the key concerns here, and unnecessary decoration was scorned. Issued by the Bauer Foundry in a wide range of weights and widths, Futura became a popular choice for text and display settings, and remains so to this day.

	Eurostile Bold Extended (also known as Microgramma) from the Nebiolo Foundry Designed by Aldo Novarese, A Butti With the success of their 1952 titling typeface Microgamma, Novarese and Butti set out to design a complementary typeface that would also offer a lowercase character set. Eurostile was the end result of their efforts. Issued by the Nebiolo foundry, this rather square-shaped sans serif typeface became popular for display and advertising use, as well as computer text and display settings; and remains so to this day. Eurostile Bold Extended was used for text on Space: 1999's commlocks, moon base display screens ("Red Alert", "Human Decision Required", etc.), door panels text, emergency procedure stickers, and elsewhere.