Typeface Design for Typotheque’s Irma Display

Zero overshoots, zero leading: a capitals typeface built to stack flush

Irma Display is a geometric, capitals-only typeface designed by Peter Biľak and released by Typotheque in 2009, with contributions from Tal Leming. Round characters carry no overshoots, so every letter sits at the same height and lines can stack with zero leading. An OpenType layout feature assigns each letter one of four contextual forms—initial, medial, final, or isolated—automatically mixing positive and negative shapes to produce results that read as custom lettering rather than set type. The family also includes over 200 discretionary ligatures for further compactness.

Set in Irma Display