Silver Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design · 2020
Monk Latin and Arabic Geometric Typeface Design
by Paul Robb
- A' Design Award 2020 Silver Winner in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Salt & Pepper
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 65,564
- Verification code BA08A83AC3 · Verify this award
About Monk Latin and Arabic Geometric Typeface Design
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
Colors of Monk Latin and Arabic Geometric Typeface Design
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G0E3 ShopDesign Interview about Monk Latin and Arabic Geometric Typeface Design
The idea was to create a font that would work together seamlessly in Latin and Arabic. Especially when mixed in communications. A lot of fonts have both versions but they seem different fonts am I wanted harmony.
Harmony in languages, especially when used together, for example, international signage, newspapers, etc., basically where they would appear together and need to be one continuous communication.
I would love to start specializing in corporate brand typography Winning that award is an award from my peers, so after a lot of months of work is it satisfying that they see the merit in the work.
Because it was a self-generated font it took way too long, especially the concept of interchangeable geometric shapes, but the original idea for the form took around 4 weeks.
Originally it came out of an old conceptual project that I needed to resolve into a commercial typeface.
I would love to start working with another company to create an extended family, even a variable version.
Basically a love of letters and seeing those forms come to life in the shape of words.
All type design is an influence as I love old signage and letters in the street, to a beautifully crafted letter from font foundries.
Corporate branding would be my target. Companies need to be authentic and to be that you need to stand out from the crowd, and have an original font does just that.
The idea for shared geometry, they are integrated and work together.
The idea monk, comes from the origin of the project, they were the diffusers of communication and I wanted to retain that idea of dialogue.
Illustrator, Fontographer & Glyphs
Shared geometry, because as I said lots of fonts now have Arabic versions, but they tend to be stepchildren, sometimes a sanserif font will have the Arabic version in calligraphic style, I wanted the same feeling in both sets.
We worked in the studio as a team, I am lucky to have passioned people who shared my vision.
At the final stages, it is crucial to the development, but original sketched fonts were the beginning.
I knew what I wanted to express in the harmony between languages, but I wasn't sure that it would be possible, especially the idea to develop an Arabic font, with such a strict design narrative.
We won an award last year, so this is our follow up.
That I can get lost sometimes in perfection, which probably slowed to production.