Alan Sans and Manuale Font Pairing

Alan Sans and Manuale are a confident pairing that sets a playful grotesque above an editorial serif. Alan Sans takes the headings at weight 700, and Manuale carries the body. Headings feel bold and lively while the text reads like a well-set publication, which suits magazines, company blogs and marketing sites.

Why Alan Sans and Manuale Work Together

Alan Sans, by Raphaël Ronot and Samar Zureik, balances the utilitarian side of type with its expressive side. It is a playful sans built on a traditional grotesque skeleton, with a softer and more flexible treatment, and it reveals more personality as it gets bolder. Manuale is part of the Omnibus-Type Press Series, designed by Pablo Cosgaya and Eduardo Tunni for books, newspapers and magazines, in print and online.

Bold grotesque headings over a text serif is one of the most reliable structures in editorial design, and this pair gives it a fresh look. Alan Sans has more warmth than the usual choices, so the heading feels approachable rather than loud. Manuale was built for the long haul, and its steady rhythm supports the page once the heading has done its work.

Where Alan Sans and Manuale Work Best

Magazines and company blogs suit this pair, since they need a strong headline voice and text people will finish. Marketing sites can use Alan Sans for hero lines and Manuale for longer stories, such as case studies. It also works for news-style sites and newsletters that want to look more personal than a typical grotesque and serif layout.

Weights and Sizes to Use

Set Alan Sans at 700 for headings, or 800 and above for a louder title, since its character grows with weight; the family runs from 300 to 900. Use Manuale at 400 for body text and 600 or 700 for bold; it runs from 300 to 800 with italics. Body text works well at 17 to 19px with a line height near 1.6.

Things to Watch

Alan Sans has no italic style, so avoid emphasized words in headings. Its playful details can feel too casual on serious subjects such as law or medicine. Manuale has a fairly compact texture, so give it a little more size and line height on phones. Keep the heaviest heading weights for short lines, as long bold titles quickly feel overbearing.