Typeface Design for Pharma

Rounded terminals that double as ink traps

Pharma is a sans-serif typeface by Julien Gaillardot, published by Optimo, conceived around the tension between organic and technological aesthetics. Development began in 2000 with condensed geometric letterforms that were subsequently evolved along multiple axes. Rounded forms at junctions and terminals function simultaneously as soft joints and ink traps, lending an organic quality to an otherwise angular structure. The family ships in two width groups—standard and Condensed—each in four styles, and is described by the foundry as suited for both print and screen.

Set in Pharma

Insights

Design began in 2000 with condensed geometric letterforms that mutated along multiple axes before reaching the released form.
Rounded forms at junctions and terminals serve a dual role: soft joints for visual warmth and functional ink traps.
Fraction numerals were redrawn at smaller sizes with adjusted weights to maintain consistency with the rest of the typeface.
The contextual alternates feature replaces a dash between uppercase letters or numerals with an uppercase version of that dash set slightly higher.