The motivation behind the Botanika family was the desire to create a text version of the Magion font. Although the glyphs were originally drawn using the same proportions, they were subsequently adjusted in order to improve legibility. The font retains certain characteristics of the original, such as the top serif on the “i” and the similar bottom serif on the “l”. Lowering the x-height lent the family a new and original character. The italics are slightly more condensed than the regular weight, without losing the austere grace of the regular weight. They are distinct enough to stand out in the text. Alternative characters can be selected to spice up the setting, or conversely to subdue headlines by using more traditional letter shapes. Small caps are available as well. The monospace version is a 10 pitch font: at 10 pt type size 10 characters fit exactly into the width of one inch, meaning that individual letters Take up 60 % of an em in width. The family is provided with matching italics. The modifications made during the OpenType transition included the addition of missing glyphs to cover the Suitcase Standard set and adding relevant kerning pairs, plus redrawing the bold weight and the accents. Despite its lower x-height, the font is often used for setting medium to long texts. Its slightly archaic feel lends text set in Botanika an air of novelty, which may be the reason why it is so popular in extensive corporate identity systems. If you are looking for an alternative to the cold, neutral sans serifs which are so popular these days, Botanika is the perfect choice.

An old narrow Grotesque from Stempel’s early days (possibly Information Bold Condensed) revived and revised for photocomposition.