Mercat Barcelona-Typeface

Typography Inspired by Barcelona's Modernism and Art-Deco Movement

Mercat Barcelona is a decorative typeface designed specifically for titles and typographic compositions. Its purpose is to complement and enhance texts or graphic designs, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication.

The creation process involved the development of a grid system based on straight lines and circles, which helped refine the initial sketches. Each letter was then vectorized and compiled into an OpenType Font (OTF) file, making it easily accessible for designers.

The Mercat Barcelona font is available for free download on Studio Outline's website, allowing designers to incorporate this distinctive typeface into their projects. Its versatility and artistic flair make it a valuable addition to any typographic composition.

Studio Outline's team, including Alvaro Fernandez, Davide Volpe, and Mattias Lindström, dedicated approximately two months to the project. Their research involved capturing the essence of Barcelona through their own photographs and studying influential books such as "Barcelona Grafica" by America Sanchez and "Cartells Catalans, Modernisme a l'International Exposició 1929."

One of the main challenges faced during the design process was finding the right balance between legibility and ornamental elements. Studio Outline aimed to create a contemporary typeface that captured the essence of Barcelona's modernist style while remaining functional and visually appealing.

Mercat Barcelona is not only a testament to Studio Outline's creativity and technical skills but also a celebration of the city they call home. By incorporating the playful yet elegant elements of Barcelona's modernist building decorations, Studio Outline has created a typeface that pays homage to the rich artistic heritage of the city.

This design was recognized with the Bronze A' Design Award in 2016, in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category. This prestigious award honors designs that demonstrate outstanding creativity, resourcefulness, and technical skills, contributing to improvements in quality of life.