12b's new typeface is thoughtfully designed and full of tear-dropped charm
In the evenings and weekends after the day graphic design jobs, William Lyall and Josh Epstein-Richards’ work as design and risograph studio, 12b. A self-initiated venture, the studio’s work is always full of zest, swapping their well deserved evenings off to do more design on projects they evidently love. Its latest work, a typeface designed between 2015 — 2018, reflects the studio’s after-work method of collaborating.
As the typeface began “as a purely afternoon, or evening based project,” its title of PM Grotesk reflects this, “derived from the Latin ‘post-meridian’ meaning past mid-day,” the studio tells It’s Nice That. Looking to design a typeface “motivated to offer subtle charm and character across a range of formats,” 12b’s latest work is full of noticeable and helpful details, making it a typeface you instantly want to download and implement into projects.
PM Grotesk’s usability is down to the evident research the pair have put into creating the typeface over the past three years. By “blending traditional nuances found in original grotesque wood type with the contemporary feel of International Typographic Style, PM Grotesk acts as a modest alternative to its 21st Century peers,” 12b describes.
Across its five weights, the typeface adds subtle flairs such as tear-dropped ends of strokes, particularly noticeable in its medium through bold weights. Noting contrast and emotion as purposeful characters of the typeface too, Josh and Will hope their details will “give the family an approachable personality with understated values”.
To enable users to fully play around with PM Grotesk’s graphic capabilities, 12b has also designed the typeface its own site, available here, encouraging its audience to experiment and play with options that fit best for them. The typeface adds to a growing list of thoughtfully implemented projects by the studio, including a redesign of Vanguards magazine’s last issue.
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Lucy (she/her) is the senior editor at Insights, a research-driven department with It's Nice That. Get in contact with her for potential Insights collaborations or to discuss Insights' fortnightly column, POV. Lucy has been a part of the team at It's Nice That since 2016, first joining as a staff writer after graduating from Chelsea College of Art with a degree in Graphic Design Communication.