Paul Robb · CLIENT: Salt & Pepper
Monk seeks a balance between the openness and legibility of humanist sans serifs and a more regularized character of the square sans serif. Although originally designed as a Latin typeface it was decided early on that it needed a wider dialogue to include an Arabic version. Both Latin and Arabic design us the same rationale and the idea of shared geometry. The strength of the parallel design process allows the two languages to have balanced harmony and grace. Both Arabic and Latin work seamlessly together having shared counters, stem thickness, and curved forms.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Monk is a multi-language geometric harmoniously balanced font in Arabic and Latin. The font family has its origins from the Benedictine and Franciscan writing. Both Arabic and Latin work seamlessly together having shared counters, stem thickness, and curved forms. Monk is a type family that seeks a balance between the openness and legibility of humanist sans serifs. Letterforms have a distinct direction of the ductus, a wide overall stance, large open counters that help in its legibility.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- True Type and Open Source Font
- Tags
- Typeface design, Font Design, Font Family, Monk, Graphic typeface
- Production Technology
- Designed and produced in Fontographer
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was to create a modern typeface based on the historical research.
- Project Duration
- The Project started in 2017 and finish in September 2018, in Perugia Italy.
- Operation Flow
- Our underlying concept was to develop a font that could communicate harmoniously in Arabic and Latin that was constructed with shared geometry. When used in an Arabic text western words would be seamlessly intergraded in the text.
- Research
- The Monk font family has its origins from the Benedictine and Franciscan writing. The initial research was based around the ancient text stored in and around Umbria in central Italy. Analyzing the form and structure of the monk's letter we created a modern approach to the forms creating repeatable geometric curves, which were applied first to create the Latin font. With a concept of open discussion through the religions, the next logical step for us was to develop those design rationals to Arabic lettering with the development of two harmonious fonts.
- Inspiration
- The font family has its origins from the Benedictine and Franciscan writing. Originally designed as a Latin typeface it was quickly seen that we needed to open a wider dialogue and expand the font to include an Arabic version, using the same rationale to the design. The strength of the parallel design process allows the two typeset languages to have balanced harmony and grace.
- Image Credits
- © Paul Henry Robb, Salt & Pepper
- Patents
- © Paul Henry Robb, Salt & Pepper 2018
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