Motorix: A Versatile Typeface of Alternatives

A Constructivist Design by Monica Maccaux

Monica Maccaux, a renowned type designer, was inspired by the manipulation of counter spaces within letterforms when creating Motorix. This unique typeface originated from a graduate school type workshop and has since evolved into a full family of weights, consisting of thousands of letterform variants.

Originally known as "Weird" during its beta-form, Motorix found its home at PsyOps Type Foundry in San Francisco, CA, under the guidance and collaboration of Rod Cavazos. With the expertise of Sibylle Hagmann as a mentor, this typeface transformed into a versatile and highly flavorful constructivist design.

Motorix stands out among other typefaces due to its interchangeable letterforms, offering endless possibilities for creative expression. The typeface was created using Fontlab Studio, utilizing scripting to generate stylistic sets and achieve a wide range of letterform variations.

The Motorix typeface family comprises three weights with corresponding obliques: A Gauge, A Gauge Oblique, B Gauge, B Gauge Oblique, C Gauge, and C Gauge Oblique. These variations allow designers to explore different visual styles and adapt the typeface to various contexts.

Accessing the stylistic sets and ligatures of Motorix is seamless through the OpenType feature, available in Microsoft and Adobe products. This user-friendly interaction enhances the versatility and usability of the typeface.

Monica Maccaux's journey with Motorix began in 2011 during her graduate school years and was officially published by PsyOps Type Foundry in 2014. Throughout the design process, Maccaux conducted extensive research on existing sans serif typefaces, aiming to manipulate and reimagine their optical and visual characteristics while retaining the fundamental components of letterform recognition.

Despite its success, Motorix faced challenges in finding a suitable type foundry and marketing its unique features to reach wider markets. However, its niche appeal within the tech, space, modern, and alternative type categories has garnered recognition and admiration from designers and typographers.

Motorix has been awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category in 2018. This prestigious accolade recognizes the typeface's well-designed, practical, and innovative nature, meeting professional and industrial requirements. Motorix's integration of industry best practices and competent technical characteristics contributes to a better world of typography.

With Motorix, Monica Maccaux has created a typeface that pushes the boundaries of typographic expression, offering designers a versatile tool to convey electronic rhythms and evoke a sense of humanistic form.