Hermann Zapf
Type Designer
In their own words
The idea was to facilitate an eye-guiding effect by designing shapes based on an oval fitting as closely as possible inside a rectangle.
Articles & interviews3
- Design Dept® studio reimagines artificial botanicals as design objects
Design Dept® studio, based in Los Angeles, developed a refined brand identity for Fauxliage, a company reimagining artificial botanicals as intentional design objects. The identity draws inspiration from Art Nouveau tile design and features a customised logotype based on VJ Type’s Kobe, supported by GT Alpina and Zapf Humanist 601. A sophisticated color palette and geometric botanical illustrations reinforce the brand’s balance of organic form and architectural structure.
- Hugmun creates colourful Oio Lab skincare identity
Copenhagen-based studio Hugmun created a vibrant identity refresh for natural skincare brand Oio Lab, using gradients and oily graphic blobs inspired by each product's ingredients. The system extends across packaging and photography, pairing the existing handwritten wordmark with Optima nova LT Pro to bring clarity to product and ingredient descriptions.
- Designing in squares: Erkin Karamemet takes us on the historical journey behind his Modena typeface
The article is a guest feature by type designer Erkin Karamemet, translated and contextualized by Ferdinand Ulrich, exploring the conceptual and historical background of his new typeface Modena. It traces the geometric and typographic lineage of square-based letterforms, referencing figures like Piet Hein, Alessandro Butti, and Hermann Zapf. Karamemet discusses Modena’s design process, variable font structure, and the balance between optical correction and geometric precision.