Rotary Sans Lettertype by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni

Rotary Sans Lettertype by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award yn Sulver in Grafyk, Yllustraasje en Fisuele Kommunikaasje Ûntwerp Competition Category.

SulverGrafysk· 2025

Rotary Sans Lettertype

by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni

Client: S6 Foundry

A' Design Award yn Sulver Winner in Grafysk Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #167715

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Rotary Sans Lettertype

Rotary Sans is in OpenType sans-serif lettertype mei geometryske struktueren en lichte foarmfariaasjes. It befettet pearfoarmige inktfallen dy't de lêsbierheid befoarderje en in ûnderskiedend fisueel elemint tafoegje. It lettertype biedt in folsleine Latynske glyfeset, plus alternative karakters en ligatueren, foar ferskate typografyske tapassingen. It ûntwerp leit de nêdrok op dúdlikheid en konsistinsje, geskikt foar konteksten lykas branding. Rotary Sans is beskikber yn meardere gewichten en stilen, brûkber yn sawol digitale as printformaten wêr't lêsbierheid en in unifoarm uterlik nedich binne.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award yn Sulver

Rotary Sans Lettertype is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Sulver, in bûtengewoan prestisjeuze erkenning foar topûntwerpen dy't prachtich en yndrukwekkend binne. Sulverwinners binne tige briljante en ekstreem kreative wurken dy't de treflike ekspertize, it talint en de skerpsinnigens fan har ûntwerpers yllustrearje. Fan Rotary Sans Lettertype wurdt ferwachte dat it in prachtich foarbyldwurk is, opmerklik profesjoneel en djip ynnovatyf. Dit winnende ûntwerp fan de A' Design Award yn Sulver is in tige opfallende, bewûndere útfining dy't foardiel bringt en de grinzen fan keunst, wittenskip, ûntwerp en technology ferleget. Rotary Sans Lettertype is in skepping dêr't breed oerjûn wurdt, dy't winsken wekker makket, positive gefoelens bringt en ferwûnderjen en fernuvering opwekket.

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