Poleno
DizajnDesign · 2009
Originally commissioned for a Slovak folk dance ensemble in 2006, this all-caps display typeface draws on woodcut illustration traditions to deliver bold, irregular headline letterforms across six weights.
About
Inspired by a woodcut book cover by Slovak artist Martin Benka, Poleno pairs a raw, handmade quality with controlled typographic structure. Randomly generated contextual alternates prevent monotony when identical characters appear adjacent, giving headlines a lively, non-mechanical rhythm. Two subfamilies differ only in their treatment of diacritics: the standard set merges accents into letterforms, while Poleno ALT keeps them visually separate.
Classification
All-caps display typeface with woodcut-inspired texture and bold, non-rational letterforms. Classified as display due to its explicit capitals-only design and heritage rooted in woodcut book cover illustration.