Diploë
Monokrom · Frode Helland, Kostas Bartsokas · 2024
A variable humanist sans by Frode Helland and Kostas Bartsokas, spanning three widths and seven weights with matching italics for a total of forty-two styles.
About
Conceived as a variable spectrum, the family draws its structure from Renaissance writing, with arches that spout high from the stem and a left-leaning contrast axis tempered by near-horizontal arch growth and symmetrical thick-thin distribution. Three named widths, Narrow, Regular and Wide, each run from Extralight to Black with italics, allowing precise control of ink density across narrow columns and long-form text alike. The extreme ends of the spectrum also lend themselves to graphic and animated applications where dramatic width contrast is needed.
Classification
Diploë is explicitly described as a lineal humanist, borrowing structure and proportions from Renaissance writing, with a left-leaning contrast axis and high-sprouting arches characteristic of humanist sans serifs.