Pilsner
Frere-Jones · Tobias Frere-Jones
A faceted display face by Tobias Frere-Jones that eliminates all curves to bridge Roman and Blackletter traditions, with extra-long ascenders referencing Rudolf Koch.
About
Frere-Jones describes the design as stemming from a half-remembered beer label with lettering that read like a Roman letter wearing a Blackletter overcoat. By stripping out curvature entirely, the family draws on Vojtech Preissig's early experiments while the extended ascenders nod directly to Koch's mastery of both traditions. Four weights from Light to Black make it flexible for display use, but the unconventional structure keeps it firmly in expressive or editorial territory.
Classification
Pilsner bridges Roman and Blackletter traditions by eliminating curves entirely, replacing them with angular, faceted strokes. This places it firmly in the display category as a highly distinctive, historically referential design with no conventional serif or sans-serif structural basis.