Frame Creative designs Sinner typeface for Krass Journal issue three

For the third issue of Australian publication Krass Journal, the magazine has had a custom typeface called Sinner produced by Frame Creative. The revised typeface is an accurate reflection of the stylistic tendencies of the magazine, described as “biting, audacious and confronting”. This issue looks packed with typography and graphic design gems.

This issue of Krass called for a change in typeface, "something more visceral to complement some of the rawest themes to date,” say the designers. “The content was dense, the context was sharp, the featured artists were solicitous and this formed the foundation of what Sinner would become.”

From an editorial point of view, editors Sanja Grozdanic and Tess Martin gave Simon Pearce, Frame Creative’s creative director, a wealth of influences, “everything from Fellini posters to old books as reference points, and he took it somewhere sublime,” they explain. As a result Simon says he cast a wide net of research for an appropriate typeface, “finding traditional blackletter styles lacking the versatility we needed. Under extremely limited time pressures, we worked closely with the editors of Krass Journal Tess and Sanja, to devise a typeface imbued with a medieval ferocity while continuing to push contemporary boundaries”.

The final result Simon explains is a "brutal, neo-classic typeface referencing historic Germanic letterforms and Islamic calligraphy. There is an inherent ugliness to Sinner, much like some of the topics discussed in this issue of Krass Journal. However, there is equally a brazen and valorous tone explored in the content, which was essential to reflect in the typeface.”

Issue three of Krass Journal is available to buy here.