First designed by Herb Lubalin as a logo, not a typeface, Avant Garde has had a tumultuous history. Once a representation of innovation and singularity, its popularity in the 1970s has given it a distinctly retro connotation in modern times. Its complex ligatures, particularly the distinctive dramatically-slanted "A" are a challenge for any designer to master, and the ongoing debate continues over whether anyone has been able to use it correctly since Lubalin himself.