The Original Keep Calm and Carry On Font: A Story of Inspiration and Evolution

The 'Keep Calm and Carry On' font has become synonymous with British resilience and determination during World War II. Designed by Ernest Wallcousins, a renowned illustrator and painter, the original poster was intended to calm the nerves of the British public in the face of impending war. The font's unique design, characterized by its bold lines and rounded edges, has been widely admired and emulated.

Riglia Serif Font is a free font that is available for personal use only. Although it's not the official Keep Calm and Carry On font, it shares many similarities with the original design. The font's creator has drawn inspiration from the Gill Sans typeface, evident in the R's distinctive shape and the M's pointed vertex. The C character also bears a resemblance to the 'basic lettering' used by engineers, which later influenced the Gotham typeface.

The original Keep Calm and Carry On poster was hand-drawn by Ernest Wallcousins, as revealed by researcher Bex Lewis of Manchester Metropolitan University. Recent research at the National Archive has shed new light on the font's development and evolution.

One of the most distinctive features of the Riglia Serif Font is its use of alternative characters. The Alt T keystroke provides an alternative lowercase t without a curved wedge cutaway, while the Alt G keystroke offers a single-story g instead of the traditional eyeglass-shaped letterform. The crown motif from the top of the original poster has been incorporated into the font at the plus minus ± and section § keystrokes.

In recent years, the Riglia Serif Font has undergone significant updates to improve its functionality and character set. Version 2.0 (2017) introduced a full range of Latin Extended-A characters, Welsh diacritics, and Irish dotted consonants, making it more versatile for use in various languages and contexts. The family now includes new weights such as Book, Heavy, and Light, each with a complimentary italic.

The 'Keep Calm and Carry On' font has become an iconic symbol of British culture and resilience. Its evolution from a forgotten World War II poster to a widely used font is a testament to the power of design and its ability to transcend time and cultures. Whether used for personal or commercial projects, the Riglia Serif Font is a reminder of the importance of staying calm in the face of adversity and carrying on with determination and courage.

Original keep calm and carry on font