Typeface System for ADAC
24-typeface custom system for 22 million members
TypeMates designed a bespoke three-subfamily type system for ADAC, Germany's motoring club with 22 million members. The system comprises a Sans for interfaces, a Slab for high-impact headlines, and a display Serif for journals and magazines, totalling 24 typefaces. The family spans variable fonts for web and app use, manually optimised TrueType for low-resolution screens, and specialty styles including map-oriented squared numbers and sub-brand variants for ADAC Motorsport, Foundation, and Air Rescue.
Set in ADAC Sans, ADAC Slab, ADAC Serif
Insights
- The Slab's lowercase 'a' omits its upper serif, while 'n', 'm', and 'x' are partially serifless in their counters—deliberate departures that balance legibility with brand character.
- The Serif was not derived directly from the Sans or Slab construction; it prioritises text rhythm independently, maintaining family coherence only through shared details such as the italic 'k'.
- A narrow Sans variant (four styles) handles dense legal and membership text in contexts not intended to take centre stage in brand communication.
- An 'ADAC Squared Numbers' style enables individually coloured number squares for map contexts, addressing a specific wayfinding use case within the same font system.
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