The challenge
A new foundry with beautiful type and no voice of its own.
Mono’s typefaces were quiet and precise, but the launch plan relied on loud colour and trend-led visuals that hid the letters.
All work
04 / 05
Identity, specimen system and a live type tester for an independent type foundry that prizes restraint.
- Project
- 04
- Category
- Brand Identity
- Year
- 2024
Overview
A foundry whose typefaces whisper needed an identity that could, too.
- Client
- Mono Type Foundry
- Industry
- Typography
- Year
- 2024
- Location
- London, United Kingdom
- Services
- Strategy
- Creative Direction
- Brand Identity
- Web Design
- Development
The approach
Let the letters be the brand.
Two colours, one serif and the glyphs themselves at enormous scale. Nothing else competes with the type.
The solution
An identity system, printed specimens and a live online tester.
Business cards, specimen books and a website where every typeface can be tried, compared and licensed in one place.
The result
The foundry launched with a voice as precise as its type.
Every touchpoint now shows the work instead of decorating around it.
What we did
Our part in the work.
Qoro led 5 disciplines on Mono, carried by one small team from first conversation to launch.
- 01 Strategy let the letters lead
- 02 Creative Direction two colours, one voice
- 03 Brand Identity cards, specimens, signage
- 04 Web Design a specimen you can scroll
- 05 Development a live type tester
Design system
Colour & type.
The palette and typefaces behind Mono. Tap a colour to copy its value.
Display
Instrument Serif Regular
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789 &?!
Body
Almarai Regular
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789 &?!
Glyphs as images, two colours only, and specimen layouts borrowed from metal-type proofs.
Wordmark
Mono
Interaction — try it
The website
Designed and built in the browser.
Homepage, index and inner pages, designed as one system across desktop and mobile.
On mobile
Redesigned for the thumb, not shrunk from the desktop.
Outcome
-
01
Clearer brand positioning
Restraint as a point of view.
-
02
A consistent system
One identity from print to screen.
-
03
Type you can try
Live testing before licensing.
Mono — in one line
An identity that steps aside so the letters can speak.
Next project
05 / 05
Shift
