经过对无衬线字体多年持久的兴趣，Adrian Frutiger于1988年设计了Avenir™。在接受Linotype的一次采访时，他说他觉得有义务设计一款能够传承Erbar和Futura的线性无衬线字体，还要利用20世纪的经验和风格演变。在法语中，Avenir一词的意思是“未来”，暗示了该字体对Futura的诠释。但与Futura不同，Avenir不是纯粹的几何形状; 它的垂直笔划要比水平笔划粗，字母“o”不是一个正圆，且升部被缩短了。这些细微差别有助于提高易读性，并使Avenir在文本和标题中都显得和谐、得体。2004年，Adrian Frutiger和Linotype GmbH的字型总监Akira Kobayashi（小林章）重新设计了Avenir并为Platinum Collection创作了Avenir Next。

Adrian Frutiger designed Avenir™ in 1988, after years of having an interest in sans serif typefaces. In an interview with Linotype, he said he felt an obligation to design a linear sans in the tradition of Erbar and Futura, but to also make use of the experience and stylistic developments of the twentieth century. The word Avenir means 'future' in French and hints that the typeface owes some of its interpretation to Futura. But unlike Futura, Avenir is not purely geometric; it has vertical strokes that are thicker than the horizontals, an """"o"""" that is not a perfect circle, and shortened ascenders. These nuances aid in legibility and give Avenir a harmonious and sensible appearance for both texts and headlines. In 2004 Adrian Frutiger and the type director of Linotype GmbH Akira Kobayashi reworked the Avenir and created the Avenir Next for the Platinum Collection.