Simula
Sharp Type · Justin Sloane · 2019
A Plantin-inspired text serif by Justin Sloane with a distinctive single-story 'a', developed over four years as a warm, literary reading face.
About
Simula is a humanist old-style text serif designed by Justin Sloane and released through Sharp Type in 2019, the result of four years of development and his debut typeface. The design draws loosely on Plantin, borrowing the single-story 'a' characteristic of Plantin Infant to give the face warmth and a slightly informal quality at small sizes. It has been adopted widely in editorial and digital contexts, typically paired with contemporary grotesques.
Classification
Humanist old-style text serif in the Plantin tradition. Distinctive single-story 'a' drawn from Plantin Infant. Moderate stroke contrast, warm texture, designed for sustained reading at text sizes. Not a revival – a contemporary interpretation of the old-style model.