Octave
Sharp Type · Josh Finklea · 2022
A considered neo-grotesque from Josh Finklea that revisits mid-century sans-serif principles without nostalgia, offering 12 styles for branding and editorial use.
About
Octave is a 2022 neo-grotesque from Josh Finklea, released through Sharp Type. It takes the structural logic of mid-twentieth century sans-serifs as a starting point, then reexamines letterform decisions with fresh eyes rather than reverting to historical precedent. The result is a clean, harmonious grotesque that sits comfortably between Swiss rigour and contemporary workability.
Classification
A modern neo-grotesque that draws on mid-twentieth century Swiss grotesques (Univers, Haas Unica lineage) while reexamining their structural conventions. Clean construction, regularised letterforms, and a considered balance between historical grotesque sensibility and contemporary refinement. No overt quirks or revival nostalgia.