Typeface Design for a Multiscript Display Font
Descenders pinned to the baseline for extreme horizontal tension
Metal is a sans-serif family by Pizza Typefaces supporting Cyrillic and Latin scripts, spanning nine fonts from normal to decidedly extended widths at a single regular weight. Its square letterforms reference 1970s typefaces such as Microgramma, Eurostyle, and Bank Gothic, sitting between sci-fi visual culture and brutalism. A defining structural choice constrains descenders to the baseline rather than eliminating them, producing strong horizontality and a compact vertical footprint. Stylistic sets allow descenders to occupy full vertical space and offer alternate letterforms in both scripts, with punctuation also receiving stylistic variants.
Set in Metal
Insights
- Descenders are constrained to the baseline rather than deleted, enforcing horizontal linearity across the line.
- Extended widths amplify the linear effect and suit headings and logos; narrower widths are suggested for short texts.
- Stylistic sets override the baseline descender restriction, restoring conventional vertical spacing when needed.
- The family covers both Cyrillic and Latin, with alternate letterforms available in each script via stylistic sets.
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