Tempo (typeface)

Tempo is a 1930 sans-serif typeface designed by R. Hunter Middleton for the Ludlow Typograph company. Tempo is a geometric sans design, closely copying Futura which had attracted considerable attention in the United States. Unlike Futura, however, it has a "dynamic" italic with foot serifs suggesting handwriting. Tempo was expanded to a large family released over the 1930s and 40s, that has not been completely digitised. It included the shadow-form display typeface Umbra, which has often been released separately. Middleton also designed a slab-serif typeface in similar style, Karnak, around the same time.

Tempo's italic was an influence on that of the popular 2002 geometric sans-serif Neutraface, designed by Christian Schwartz.