Contro

Taking inspiration from early 20th-century Italian modernist typography, Contro embraces global writing traditions. It is not a revival typeface—it does not replicate the past but moves forward through the designers’ unique perspective. Harsh Patel’s initial alphabet, drawn in November 2023, laid the groundwork for Michael Cina’s exploration, resulting in a fully realized glyph set. Together, the designers crafted a typeface that melds multiculturalism and experimentation. Contro’s glyphs and styles were designed with many typographic cultures in mind. The turn of the 20th century, a pivotal moment in industrialization, inspired a focus on universality in typography. The conceptual backbone of Contro pays homage to iconic figures such as Tschichold, Renner, Bill, and Bayer. Contro challenges designers to explore new methods of language construction and rethink their typographic choices. While it supports legible Latin text, its true potential lies in the user’s hands, encouraging intentionality in spacing, layout, and overall design. [publictype.us]