New typeface Common Sans autocorrects the word refugee to human

Founded on the premise that “being a refugee is a temporary status, being a human is permanent,” the new typeface Common Sans is a response to the ongoing global migrant crisis.

Last year a record number of 220,000 asylum seekers arrived in Europe by boat, and this year, more than 900,000 people have landed on the beaches of Greece and Italy. This is to say nothing of the some 4 million people that have managed to reach Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

Designed by Swedish design firm Essen International and Solvatten, an organisation distributing water treatment systems, Common Sans autocorrects the word ‘refugee’ to ‘human’ whenever the user writes it. It is available to download for free online and the accompanying website shows the responsive typeface in action.