I’m unsure why, but it seems as though in modern typography, the more plain and simplistic the font, the more it’s associated with perfection. While structured typefaces might be vital in function, they lack personality, and to be frank, the world is in desperate need of a little more charm.
Thankfully, Swiss type foundry Grilli Type has released its new typeface that combines Japanese and Latin symbols into a gloriously playful font called GT Maru.
GT Maru was inspired by designer Thierry Blancpain’s adventures to Japan. During one of his trips, he came to admire the approachable tone of systems found around areas such as construction sites, in contrast to the rigid and stark designs often found in other country’s signage. This observation sparked an interest in designing a style that could be both communicative and functional while maintaining a cheery composition.
Theirry developed GT Maru over four years and created many versions of the rounded letters and quirky expressions. The font celebrates the square character frame that composes Japanese characters and the varying width and heights of Latin letters, resulting in a warm and contained aesthetic.
The GT Maru Mega version of the font pumps up the volume by creating a more delightfully inflated version. The subfamily also comes with an outlined collection that’s reminiscent of 70’s typefaces. Emojis are also included, and the set gets made up of numerous expressions and images in both color and black and white.
Even if you can’t think of something to say with the numerous weights of GT Maru, you can always utilize an expressive emoji. This font is quirky in all the right ways while still wholly functional and readable—everything you could ever want from a typeface.
Project Credits
Type Foundry – Grilli Type