Piet
TypeMates · Nils Thomsen · 2024
A constructed mono and sans pair by Nils Thomsen, inspired by Finnish licence plates, built around fixed widths, deep ink traps and deliberately unbalanced proportions.
About
Designed by Nils Thomsen in 2024, Piet grew from the Mono outward: the Sans is derived from it with proportional spacing and softened forms, while both share the same chunky, narrow geometry and visual idiosyncrasy. The Mono's italics are entirely redrawn with rotated caps and new letterforms, while the Sans italics are simply slanted, creating a striking contrast within the family. Gold at the 2025 European Design Awards, Piet suits wayfinding, packaging and interface work where an unmistakable, functional character is preferable to conventional refinement.
Classification
Piet Mono is the core of the family, a constructed monospaced typeface with fixed-width columns and pronounced ink traps; Piet Sans is derived from it with proportional spacing, making mono the defining character of the system.