Designing an Expanded and Futuristic Type Family

Overview

Refrankt is a futuristic sans serif family with 18 styles, expanded proportions, and wide letterforms. Designed to be a versatile font for designers, Refrankt offers an extensive character set and a wide selection of font styles. Refrankt's lighter styles are more neutral and ideal for body text, while the bolder weights shine in headers and headlines. Those seeking maximum versatility would be pleased with a variable font incorporating all upright and italic font styles into one compact Variable Font file.

First Sketches

As a project nears its release, we like to revisit our initial sketches to rediscover their inspiration and explore the earliest versions of each letterform. We can confidently determine whether we achieved our intended goals by comparing the first sketch with the final family.

One of the most notable features of the early drafts of Refrankt is its unmistakable resemblance to a monospaced font, particularly the serifs on the letter "I," which make it more prominent in any body of text. Later versions also dropped the original structure of the letter "r."

Apart from these minor details, the final version remains faithful to the original. You'll also notice that all early sketches were designed for the Regular weight. It was only later that we began working on other styles and weights.

↑ Early draft versions of Refrankt

Futuristic Type: Too Much or Not Enough

Our work on Refrankt began in February 2023. The initial file, which evolved into Refrankt, was titled "2023_02_04_Futuristic. " It contained the first hints of Refrankt's DNA, which would endure countless revisions and carry over to the final version. Even then, we can get a gist of the futuristic font we would develop in the following months.

The most challenging aspect of the design process was finding the right balance between futuristic elements and versatility. It is easy to succumb to apparent visual features and shortcuts.

Throughout the early stages of development, we grappled with questions like, "Is monospaced design viable for a futuristic sans serif font? What does a sans serif font of the future look like? Are slanted terminals outdated? Will a two-storey 'a' be part of the future of typography?" 

For every project we work on, there is a crucial moment when creative freedom takes center stage. It's only once you can address all these hypothetical questions that the real work begins.

Refrankt Family Structure

Determining the appropriate size of a font family is a challenging early decision in its development. Display typefaces seem more suited to smaller families featuring fewer font styles, while more neutral type families require a broader range of styles and weights to be truly versatile. In type design, form follows function, so establishing the family structure depends on understanding the intended use of the typeface.

After careful consideration, we settled on nine font styles (Thin to Black), three of which (Thin, Bold, and Black) had to be drawn manually to ensure smooth interpolation. The same structure was maintained for slanted styles, resulting in 18 styles and one fully variable font. The standard stem in the thinnest style (Thin) is 60 units, while the fattest (Black) measures a substantial 300 units.

↑ Final Refrankt family structure

Flat Terminals

From the outset, we decided to keep all terminals flat, eventually becoming the defining feature of the entire type family. The smooth connection between the stem and the flat terminal became a recurring element, too. Additionally, the flat terminals created a striking contrast with the curved bowls and counters, accentuating the expanded proportions of the typeface and making it seem all the more futuristic.

Notice also how simple geometric components are repeated throughout the typeface. Despite being a relatively minor detail, the repetition makes it an element on which the look of the entire family is primarily based. It finds its way into multiple glyphs, sometimes quite unexpectedly.

↑ Flat terminals throughout the family

Vertical Metrics

To further emphasize Refrankt's expanded proportions, we aligned ascenders with uppercase characters. This decision compacted vertical metrics, reducing line height. In a sans serif typeface, shorter ascenders create a uniform rhythm within body text. Given the broader proportions, we aimed to ensure Refrankt was as consistent as possible in all aspects.

Setting vertical metrics can be tricky because different apps, systems, and browsers handle typefaces differently. Essentially, you're forced to go with a more applicable approach to a project. For Refrankt, the metrics are set up so that the webfont is displayed uniformly across all devices and browsers, and Typo metrics are used whenever possible.

↑ Ascenders on level with cap height

Alternate Characters

While working on a new type project, it is common to discover a letterform that works well but may not suit everyone's taste. This is especially true for retail fonts, where the end product should be as approachable and usable as possible. In Refrankt, you will find up to 7 stylistic sets, each modifying specific letters or groups of letters. Combining these sets allows you to create a unique look that suits your project.

To quickly switch between multiple stylistic sets, turn them on and off in the OpenType Features tab in any graphic design software you're using, or add custom CSS parameters to toggle specific stylistic sets.

↑ Preview of alternate characters in Refrankt

OpenType Features

Incorporating extensive OpenType features has become a standard practice at Groteskly Yours Studio. The Refrankt type family offers a wide range of OpenType features, including Case-Sensitive Punctuation, Stylistic Alternates, Standard and Discretionary Ligatures, Fractions, Sub- and Superscripts, and many others.

OpenType features enable designers to quickly modify the appearance of individual characters or groups of characters directly in their design software. We've said it before, and we'll repeat it: OpenType is a kind of magic.

↑ Overview of Refrankt OpenType features

Afterword

Refrankt is a futuristic sans serif typeface designed for versatility and clarity. Its balanced mix of geometric and grotesque influences produces clean, precise letterforms with a modern aesthetic. The Refrankt type family includes a wide range of weights, from Thin to Black, ensuring flexibility for display and text applications. 

To us at Groteskly Yours Studio, Refrankt type family reflects our passion for design and commitment to providing creative solutions to the design community. Refrankt is just starting its journey as part of our permanent font library, and we look forward to seeing the remarkable designs you'll create with Refrankt.

To see all styles and features, explore Refrankt Specimen ↗