MegaMegaTypeType
A neo-grotesque commissioned for Geneva design studio GVA, positioning itself as a stripped-back, ironic take on Helvetica and the International Swiss Style across three sub-families and twelve styles.
About
Designed by Matthieu Cortat in 2012 for studio GVA Geneva as part of the Open Switzerland project, Basetica acknowledges its Helvetica lineage whilst introducing a rawness that distances it from pristine mid-century orthodoxy. Three named sub-families – Roman, Canton and Mountain – each span six weights with matching italics. The brief called for something that conveyed Swiss precision without defaulting to cliché.
Classification
A neo-grotesque in the Helvetica tradition, self-described as a 'contemporary Helvetica' with clean, discreet forms and a nod to the International Swiss Style. Its even stroke weight and upright roman construction place it squarely in the neo-grotesque lineage.