Counter Foundry concepts and develops bespoke typefaces that elevate our client's voice through playful, expressive and functional typographic systems.

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Inspired by the utilitarian and objective-driven ethos of neo-grotesque typography, Atypic is Counter Foundry’s ode to the no-frills, straightforward letterforms that have shaped graphic design since the mid-20th century. It’s a typeface family that captures the essential paradox of modern type design – the need for personality within the bounds of function.

Atypic’s work ethic comes from its classic neo-grotesque characteristics, typified by a tall x-height, uniform stroke weight, closed apertures, and a seemingly plain appearance devoid of overtly decorative features. The construction is robust, with a sturdy, structural feel that reads well across various applications. Beyond visual properties, Atypic’s main functionality comes from an extensive character set (674 glyphs in total) that supports over 300 Latin-based languages.

Its uniqueness stems from characters that shift away from normative expectations of a so-called neutral style. The ‘a’ and ‘e’ bear subtle humanist traits, the ‘f’, ‘j’, ‘t’, and ‘y’ introduce a mechanical precision, and the ‘O’, ‘C’, and ‘G’ are closer to a geometric design than a grotesque. Other characters are also designed to stand out more than usual. The default slab serif ‘I’, the definitive tail of the ‘Q’, and a straight-legged ‘R’ identify Atypic, with more traditional alternatives available in a style set (ss03).

Atypic’s typographic expression is versatile, with eight OpenType style sets in total. These sets range from a softer schoolbook ‘a’ (ss01) to more assertive flat terminals (ss02), showcasing the typeface’s adaptability from minimalism to decorative flair. The inclusion of an ‘et’ style ampersand (ss04) and various numeral styles (ss06-08) expands its expressive range.

Atypic is cut into 6 weights from ExtraLight to ExtraBold (based on the Pablo weight distribution method) and interpolated to maintain consistency throughout the design space. Whilst lighter weights feel quite airy and refined, the heaviest styles are more compact and assertive with purposely narrow openings that make them ideal for large-scale use. Keeping with tradition, Atypic’s italics are optically tuned obliques with an 11° slant and slightly wider spacing than the Roman to support clarity and emphasis within body copy.