Design Notes

Direct and plain-speaking, Originale is based on the 1960s Italian neo-grotesque model emblematised by typefaces such as Società Nebiolo’s Forma and Umberto Fenocchio’s Linea, a relatively unknown typeface published by Fonderia Tipografica Cooperativa.

The family was developed over an 8 year period and engages the question of how to make a quotidian typographic voice both sturdy and reliable whilst maintaining a certain warmth and familiarity. For Robert, this tension is found in a subtle boxiness, a carefully modulated contrast and a rational finish.

As a kind of autobiographical excursion, Robert developed a series of vignettes for the promotional material exploring the nostalgia of his childhood with his Italian grandparents. Centred around family photos, they are a loose gesture towards Originale’s roots and a personal exploration of memory in all its power and imperfection.