Komuna Variable
Tekio · Jan Estrada-Osmycki · 2023
A fixed-width dot-matrix variable typeface born from a commission to paint a 30-metre inscription on a corrugated metal fence in Warsaw, with the fence's corrugation serving as the underlying grid.
About
Jan Estrada-Osmycki designed Komuna Variable in 2023 for Komuna Warszawa, building a custom oversized marker and using the corrugation of a sheet metal fence as a structural grid. The physical constraints of the fence kept capitals and ascenders compressed, producing a character set that echoes obsolete printing technology whilst grounded in a specific material reality. The result is a variable typeface that carries the logic of its unconventional origin into digital form.
Classification
A fixed-width dot-matrix display typeface using a grid derived from corrugated metal fence construction, resulting in a compressed character set with low capitals and ascenders reminiscent of obsolete printing technology.