Industry: Design

Typeface Design for the Poltik Font Family

Ten clock numerals became a full type family

Poltik is a two-part Latin type family by Patrycja Walczak, released through TypeTogether in 2024, comprising a bold display cut and a ten-style reversed-contrast text series. The display originated from just ten numerals on a 1970s clock found in Walczak's grandfather's drawer, which were then expanded into complementary text weights. The family won the 2023 Gerard Unger Scholarship and has since received recognition at TDC72, D&AD, TDC Tokyo, and Ed-Awards.

Set in Poltik

Insights

The display's letterforms grew exclusively from ten clock numerals, with text styles designed afterward as complements.
Reversed contrast in the text styles concentrates stroke weight at the tops and bottoms of glyphs rather than the sides.
Specific glyphs — the 'e' and 'a' counters and the swooped leg of 'K' and 'R' — carry consistent quirks across all weights to unify display and text.
Two variable fonts cover the upright and italic axes, delivering the full weight range in a reduced file footprint.