Circe Slab
Italic styles across the contrast, weight and width of a wide slab-serif system, in Latin and Cyrillic.
Designing the italics for Circe Slab A and C
In 2020, I designed the italic expansions for Circe Slab A and Circe Slab C, developing purpose-built companions in Latin and Cyrillic for the existing family by Alexandra Korolkova, initially developed with Oleksa Volochay. Rather than simply slanting the roman forms, my work focused on establishing a distinct italic rhythm for each branch while preserving its structural logic, proportions and typographic character. Circe Slab B was not part of my contribution.
Across contrast, width and voice
Circe Slab is an extensive slab-serif system built on the geometric foundation of Circe. Its styles vary not only in weight and width but also in contrast: from the near-monolinear, geometric construction of Circe Slab A, through the balanced transitional character of Circe Slab B, to the more book-oriented and highly contrasted Circe Slab C. My task was to translate these three distinct typographic voices into italics while keeping them recognisably part of one coordinated family.
One family, several typographic registers
Circe Slab includes three principal contrast models, text and display weights, and narrow counterparts for compact composition. Small caps, oldstyle figures and numerous alternate capitals extend its editorial and expressive range. The addition of italics made these voices more complete, providing emphasis and hierarchy without disrupting the relationships between the family’s different constructions.
Recognition
The original upright family received Gold in the Cyrillic category at GRANSHAN 2019 and was named a Red Dot winner in 2020. Both distinctions recognise the Circe Slab project created before the later italic expansion; they provide context for the established family to which my contribution was added.