Naancy

Drawing from architecture—its rhythm, the juxtaposition of styles, the play of light and shadow, the layout of facades, motifs and ornaments—and from nature, with its unexpected forms, curves, and intertwining shapes. In an urban context, architecture and nature coexist and engage in what can sometimes be surprising relationships. Damien Gautier translates this proximity and broad diversity into a striking typeface. Naancy is, in fact, a multifaceted typeface. At first glance, it appears as a filigree titling font; the geometry is bold, and the spacing and kerning are particularly tight and contrasting. Then, through successive modifications and permutations, it evolves into an ornate—and even exuberant—typeface featuring ligatures, initials, and decorative letters. […] Attentive to the signs he observes while walking through the urban landscape, Damien Gautier is particularly sensitive to those that reveal a handcrafted dimension and specific know-how. He closely examines wrought-iron doors, gates, railings, guardrails, and barriers, which, in their great variety, develop an aesthetic and geometry that seem to transcend styles: Classic, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modernism… The designer sees the construction of a typeface as being akin to the work of an ironmonger or blacksmith—rigorous in design, with curves forcibly constrained by the resistance of the metal. [205.tf]