Typeface Design for Windward
A rejected film title becomes a typeface
Windward is a backsloped display typeface by Denis Bashev that merges the informal graphic character of Comic Sans with the dynamics of street-art lettering. It originated as a titling concept for the documentary Sasha from Russia — about standup comedian Alexander Nezlobin attempting to win over American audiences — but the idea was never used in the film. Bashev's vector outlines were later translated into a complete font file with the help of type designer Mikhail Strukov.
Set in Windward
Insights
- The concept was developed specifically for documentary titling, giving Windward a defined narrative origin before it became a standalone font.
- Strukov converted Bashev's vector outlines into a valid font file, illustrating a division between graphic concept and technical type production.
- Strukov's background includes Ilya Ruderman's course at BHSD and Frank Blokland's class at the Plantin Institute of Typography, with custom type work since 2015 and collaborations with CSTM Fonts and Samarskaya & Partners.
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