Compound Grotesk

At first, it might seem odd that, as an industrial designer, I decided to explore the seemingly straightforward and yet deceptively complex world of typography. This shift was inspired by projects I had been working on that were more graphic in nature. One thing led to another, and I soon found myself delving into the philosophical depths of type design. Originally, my goal was to create a typeface for this website, but you might wonder, “Why didn’t he just use one of the millions of existing typefaces?” That’s a valid question, and one I asked myself in moments of regret during the project. However, when I start new projects, I often enjoy becoming highly granular, and building my own infrastructure for designing from the ground up. In this case, the typeface became part of that infrastructure.

I approached this project as a learning experience rather than a means to an end, aiming to deepen my understanding of web and watch design, especially since at the time I was still working at Timex. Interestingly, I discovered that watch design and typography share many similarities; both are highly graphic and technical fields. Working on this typeface ultimately helped me advance my watch designs further as well, and I can recall specific instances where I thought “Wow! I would not have noticed that before,” which was hugely gratifying.

I wanted this typeface to be both usable and straightforward to design, so from the start, I knew I would be focusing on creating a sans or grotesk. This decision was also partly due to my desire to keep things as straightforward as possible as a beginner, and avoiding an overwhelming amount of information. As someone new to type design, it made sense to begin by exploring the original grotesk: Akzidenz Grotesk. Consequently, many features of my typeface are similar to those found in Akzidenz Grotesk and other neo-grotesks inspired by it. The name "Compound" reflects this concept, as well as the fact that Akzidenz itself wasn’t a holistically designed typeface but rather the result of several late 19th-century German type foundries copying each other. I felt that "Compound" captured the industrial essence of this amalgamation, while also being a modern remix of the idea. Additionally, I drew significant inspiration from other low-contrast, modern grotesks born from similar principles, such as Gotham and Söhne.

As fascinating as it was to explore type design, especially from an industrial designer’s perspective, I don’t think I’ll be returning to that world anytime soon. Before starting the project, I was warned that typography is both a philosophical and meditative process, often described as being suited for monks—both metaphorically and literally. Now that I’ve skimmed the surface, I can confirm that this is true. While it’s enjoyable to dive into the deeper questions of what a typeface represents and why it needs to exist, the process can quickly become speculative and overly complex, making it hard to anchor in concrete realities. I appreciated my time down the typography rabbit hole, but I don’t see it becoming a regular part of my design process.

If you would like a copy of the typeface please feel free to reach out and send me an email, and don't forget to check out the specimen.

Fun fact: All the type used on this website is Compound Grotesk!