Pl. 4
Type
Severn Serif
A book typeface drawn over three winters, inspired by Bristol’s 18th-century printers.
Client
Self-initiated
Role
Type design
Year
2024
Discipline
Type
N° 01 — The brief
A personal project: a text face that sets long reading comfortably at small sizes and has character at display sizes.
N° 02 — The approach
Four weights with italics, old-style and lining figures, small caps and a set of ornaments. The display cut exaggerates the ink traps of the text cut for a warmer feel at large sizes.
N° 03 — The outcome
Released in 2024 and now licensed by two publishers and a gallery. Used throughout this website’s case studies.
Specimen poster
Character set
Italic detail
Weights and figures
In use: book page
Printed specimen booklet
“
Severn Serif is the rare text face that is as calm at 9pt as it is lively at 90pt.
Type review, Eye Magazine
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