Typeface Design for SuperScotch

Mountaineering literature as type-design brief

SuperScotch is a serif typeface by François Rappo for Optimo, rooted in the Scotch-face tradition and inspired by the typography of technical, adventure, and travel publications. Its starting point was 'The Playground of Europe,' an early mountaineering text uniting the Alps, British explorers, and a Scotch-face model. The design features a pronounced vertical axis, strong stroke contrast, distinctive serifs, and generous ball terminals, positioning it between modern and transitional historical classifications. The family spans text and display subfamilies, with every weight drawn individually rather than interpolated.

Set in SuperScotch

Insights

Each weight was drawn individually without interpolation, giving every style independent structural integrity.
The typeface sits explicitly between modern and transitional classifications, intended as a pragmatic alternative to severe neo-classical styles.
Rappo's background in mountaineering directly supplied the conceptual framework: the vertical axis references Alpine peak silhouettes.
The family includes both text and display subfamilies, each with matching italic styles across seven weights (Thin through Extra).