Zaft
WiseType · Jacob Wise · 2019
A grid-constructed display slab by Jacob Wise, inspired by a 1959 Wim Crouwel poster, with contextual ligatures that form rounded bridges between mirroring glyph pairs.
About
Built on a precise underlying grid with ink-traps at stroke intersections, Zaft takes the analytical rigour of Dutch modernism as its structural foundation while allowing a playful rhythm to emerge from the compressed negative space. Contextual ligatures create rounded connections between mirroring corners, softening what would otherwise be an uncompromisingly heavy-duty design. It is offered as a single style with variable format support, and is positioned squarely at editorial display and poster work.
Classification
A single-weight display typeface built on a strict grid with heavy slab-serif forms and contextual ligatures, designed explicitly for impact at large sizes rather than text setting.