Rotary Sans Tipografia by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni

Rotary Sans Tipografia by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award d'Argent in Disseny Gràfic, Il·lustració i Comunicació Visual Competition Category.

ArgentGràfic· 2025

Rotary Sans Tipografia

by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni

Client: S6 Foundry

A' Design Award d'Argent Winner in Gràfic Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Rotary Sans Tipografia

Rotary Sans és una tipografia de pal sec OpenType amb estructures geomètriques i lleugeres variacions de forma. Inclou trampes de tinta en forma de pera que milloren la llegibilitat i afegeixen un element visual distintiu. La tipografia proporciona un conjunt complet de glifs llatins, a més de caràcters alternatius i lligatures, per a diversos usos tipogràfics. El seu disseny emfatitza la claredat i la coherència, adequada per a contextos com la identitat de marca. Rotary Sans està disponible en múltiples pesos i estils, utilitzable tant en formats digitals com impresos on es requereix llegibilitat i aparença uniforme.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Argent

Rotary Sans Tipografia és un guanyador del guardó A' Design Award d'Argent, un reconeixement extraordinàriament prestigiós concedit a dissenys d'alta gamma, esplèndids i impressionants. Els guanyadors d'Argent són obres tremendament brillants i summament creatives que il·lustren la perícia, el talent i la perspicàcia excepcionals dels seus dissenyadors. Es preveu que Rotary Sans Tipografia sigui una obra meravellosa i de gran lluïment, remarcablement professional i profundament innovadora. Aquest disseny guanyador del guardó A' Design Award d'Argent és un invent molt notable i admirat que beneficia i fa avançar els límits de l'art, la ciència, el disseny i la tecnologia. Rotary Sans Tipografia és una creació molt envejada que evoca desitjos, introdueix sentiments positius i desperta sorpresa i admiració.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Rotary Sans is a modern OpenType sans-serif typeface that blends contemporary aesthetics with strong geometric contrasts. Its most distinctive feature is the pear drop-shaped ink traps, which add a unique visual character while enhancing legibility. Designed with versatility in mind, Rotary Sans includes an extended Latin glyph set, complete with alternative characters and ligatures, making it well-suited for a wide range of typographic applications.
Dimensions & Packaging: The outer box 25 x 155 x 215 was digitally printed and then silver foil printed. The 20 postcards were printed on 300gsm natural paper cmyk.
Tags: Type design, Typeface, Specimen
Production Technology: The font was meticulously designed and digitally crafted, offering support for over 200 Latin-based languages. To celebrate its launch, a limited-edition specimen box was digitally printed, showcasing the typeface’s versatility and strength across various applications.
Design Challenge: The development of Rotary Sans presented several key design challenges, requiring a careful balance between form, function, and originality. One of the primary hurdles was achieving a distinctive aesthetic while maintaining the clarity and versatility expected of a contemporary sans-serif. The typeface needed to feel fresh and modern yet still be highly functional across a range of applications, from branding to editorial use.
Research: The initial research for Rotary Sans focused on striking a balance between geometric precision and functional versatility. The design process began with an in-depth study of mid-century modern typography, particularly the clean, efficient letterforms found in grotesque and neo-grotesque typefaces. These styles, known for their straightforward and utilitarian approach, served as a foundation for Rotary Sans, but the goal was to introduce a contemporary refinement that would make it more adaptable to modern branding and communication needs.
Inspiration: Rotary Sans draws inspiration from the interplay of geometry and functionality found in mid-century modern design, where clean lines and purposeful details create a sense of clarity and efficiency. The typeface takes cues from classic grotesque and neo-grotesque sans-serifs but reinterprets them with a contemporary twist—most notably through its distinctive pear drop-shaped ink traps. These ink traps not only enhance legibility but also introduce a subtle organic contrast to the structure.
Project Duration: Location Italy. The research project began in late 2023 and progressed through development, culminating in its production and launch in July 2024.
Operation Flow: The presentation box was gifted to the first ten companies that purchased the complete typeface family.
Team Members: Paul Henry Robb
Moira Bartoloni
Image Credits: Paul Henry Robb