Custom Typefaces for Aral Petrol Stations
No two letters alike: a marker script for Germany's biggest forecourt brand
TypeMates collaborated with Bochum-based branding agency GSVI to overhaul the typographic system of German petrol station network ARAL. The project had two workstreams: revising the existing rounded corporate sans-serif and drawing a new marker-style script for campaign use.
Set in ARAL Script, ARAL Bold Extended
Insights
- ARAL Script was drawn from broad-marker strokes, with intentionally irregular contours and thick-to-thin contrast to simulate genuine handwriting variation.
- Its proportions were specifically calibrated to pair with ARAL Bold Extended, so the two typefaces combine without optical tension.
- The sans revision included fundamental redrawing of certain characters and the addition of an extended width, not merely a technical refresh.
- Special attention to numerals 3, 6, and 9 was motivated by price-display legibility, framed by the foundry as a step toward accessible communication.
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