Lunema Specimen: A Modern Typeface Inspired by History

Paul Robb's Award-Winning Typeface Design Bridges the Gap Between Past and Present

Robb's Lunema Specimen is a highly stylized contemporary neo-grotesque sans serif typeface with strong geometric contrasts. Its unique properties lie in its legibility at both small and large point sizes, thanks to the distinct deep ink traps. The font comes in 10 different weights, each with an extended Latin glyph set, alternatives, and ligatures, making it a versatile choice for various branding and communication designs.

The design process for Lunema Specimen was meticulous and research-intensive. The team studied early and late 1900 century san serif fonts, focusing on those used in high volume printing runs where legibility was a challenge due to the print process. This research informed the creation of Lunema Specimen, resulting in a font that is both stylish and functional.

The realization of Lunema Specimen was achieved using Glyphs, a professional type design software. The project began in July 2020 and was commercially released by Monotype in December 2020. The design team, which included Robb, Moira Bartoloni, and Federica Simone, faced the challenge of creating a modern font with sweeping forms that remained legible at smaller point sizes while also offering distinctive stylish forms.

Robb's design has been recognized for its innovation and creativity, earning a Silver A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation, and that evoke positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.

In conclusion, Lunema Specimen represents a successful blend of historical inspiration and modern design principles. Its versatility and legibility at various point sizes make it a valuable tool for branding and communication design. Paul Robb and his team have created a timeless typeface that is sure to leave a lasting impact in the design world.