Rotary Sans Machiyotlahcuilolli by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni

Rotary Sans Machiyotlahcuilolli by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl in Tlacuilolli, Tlacuilolixiptlaliztli ihuan Tlachialtlanonotzaliztli Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.

IztacteocuitlatlTlacuilolli· 2025

Rotary Sans Machiyotlahcuilolli

by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni

Client: S6 Foundry

Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl Winner in Tlacuilolli Category

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Colors

The Design

About Rotary Sans Machiyotlahcuilolli

Rotary Sans ce OpenType machiyotlahcuilolli amo quitqui tentzontli, quipia tlapohualli nemiliztli huan tepitzin nepapantli tlachihualiztli. Quipia ahuacachiuhqui tilnechicol tlen palehuia itech cualli machocaliztli huan quitlalia ce nelli xelihui machiyotl. Nin machiyotlahcuilolli quitlalia nochi Latino machiyomeh, ihuan occequintin machiyomeh huan nahuatilmachiyomeh, itech miyac tlahcuiloltequitl. Itequiuh quiteixpantia yectaliztli ihuan centiliztli, cualli itech tlamantli iuhquin altepetocayotl. Rotary Sans mochihua itech miyac tiyanquiztli ihuan nemiliztli, huel tequitiltiloh itech digital ihuan itech amatl campa monequi cualli machocaliztli ihuan cen tlachializtli.

The Recognition

About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl

Rotary Sans Machiyotlahcuilolli ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Iztacteocuitlatl, hueyi tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in huel yectli, tlanextic ihuan mahuiztic tlachihualli. In quicuicah Iztacteocuitlatl ca cenca cualli ihuan cenca yancuic tlachihualli in quinextia in tlamatiliztli, toltecayotl ihuan ixtlamatiliztli intlachihuanime. Ca quinequi in Rotary Sans Machiyotlahcuilolli ca cenca cualli, cenca motequiuhtia ihuan yancuic. Ni dizayno in quicuic Iztacteocuitlatl quihuelitia in toltecayotl, tlamatiliztli, dizayno ihuan teknolohia. Rotary Sans Machiyotlahcuilolli quiyolchicahua in tlacah, quipaquiltia ihuan quitlamahuiztiltia.

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