Axo
Abyme · Charles Mazé · 2021
A rounded geometric sans by Charles Mazé tracing a lineage from Johnston's essential forms through German pen nibs, French school scripts and technical drafting norms.
About
Rooted in writing models from Britain, Germany and France, the design traces a path from Edward Johnston's monolinear letterforms through the 'redis' nibs of Heintze & Blanckertz to the French 'norme E04-105' used in architecture and engineering. The rounded terminals are a direct translation of those pen nibs into type, and the geometric base favours primary forms over optical correction in the manner of technical and pedagogical lettering. Fifteen styles across three widths and five weights give the family the same flexibility the original norm allowed for shifts in width and weight.
Classification
A rounded geometric sans drawing on monolinear writing models and technical lettering traditions; the rounded terminals and geometric construction place it firmly in the geometric sans category with a distinct rounded variant character.