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 in Zilver in Grafisch, Illustratie en Visuele Communicatie Ontwerp Competition Category.

ZilverGrafisch· 2025

Rotary Sans Lettertype

by Paul Robb and Moira Bartoloni

Client: S6 Foundry

A' Design Award in Zilver Winner in Grafisch Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #167715

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Colors

The Design

About Rotary Sans Lettertype

Rotary Sans is een OpenType schreefloos lettertype met geometrische structuren en subtiele vormvariaties. Het bevat peervormige inktvangers die de leesbaarheid verbeteren en een onderscheidend visueel element toevoegen. Het lettertype biedt een complete Latijnse glyph-set, plus alternatieve tekens en ligaturen, voor verschillende typografische toepassingen. Het ontwerp legt de nadruk op helderheid en consistentie, geschikt voor contexten zoals branding. Rotary Sans is beschikbaar in meerdere gewichten en stijlen, bruikbaar in zowel digitale als gedrukte formaten waar leesbaarheid en een uniform uiterlijk vereist zijn.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Zilver

Rotary Sans Lettertype is winnaar van de A' Design Award in Zilver, een buitengewoon prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan topontwerpen die prachtig en indrukwekkend zijn. Winnaars in Zilver zijn enorm briljante en uiterst creatieve werken die de uitmuntende expertise, het talent en de scherpzinnigheid van hun ontwerpers illustreren. Rotary Sans Lettertype wordt verwacht een prachtig paradepaardje te zijn dat opmerkelijk professioneel en diepgaand innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in Zilver heeft gewonnen, is een hoogst opmerkelijke, bewonderde uitvinding die baat en de grenzen van kunst, wetenschap, ontwerp en technologie verlegt. Rotary Sans Lettertype is een zeer benijde creatie die verlangens oproept, positieve gevoelens brengt en verbazing en verwondering doet ontvlammen.

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