RL Grot Variable Hair

radluka

RL Grot

RL Wit Variable Hair

RL Wit

He holds a degree in Printmaking from Nicolaus Copernicus University and an MA in Typeface Design from the University of Reading. After working as a graphic designer, he gradually transitioned to full-time type design. In 2024, he launched an online shop to sell his typefaces directly.

RL Grot is a typeface designed for efficiency and agility, blending working-class roots with a rebellious streak. Inspired by early 20th-century designs like Franklin Gothic and Grotesk No. 9, it carves its own path, pushing contrast and embracing East-European vernacular influences.With weights from Hairline to Black, RL Grot pairs compact proportions with tight spacing, especially in its heaviest styles. Unique traits, like the simplified base of &#x27;t,&#x27; the confidently stepping left stem of &#x27;M,&#x27; and the egg-shaped forms of &#x27;U,&#x27; &#x27;o,&#x27; and &#x27;0,&#x27; define its personality. Features like emphasised shoulders on &#x27;h,&#x27; &#x27;m,&#x27; and &#x27;n,&#x27; and the softened vertical rhythm in &#x27;c&#x27; and &#x27;e,&#x27; add warmth to its mechanical precision.While RL Grot excels in large sizes, its relaxed proportions in lighter weights make it equally suitable for text. This typeface strikes a balance between mechanical precision and humanist warmth—maybe it’s a “halfway grotesk,” maybe that’s why it’s the Grot.

RL Wit is a serif typeface for display use, inspired by Renaissance epitaphs from Wrocław. While much historical lettering was lost after World War II, late Renaissance epitaphs survive, showcasing Latin inscriptions framed by German Fraktur or Schwabacher texts. These works, created under sculptor Gerhard Hendrik and his workshop, blend Renaissance elegance with a medieval touch.RL Wit draws loose inspiration from these inscriptions, reinterpreting their essence for modern typography. Its typeface family features delicate details and weights from Hairline to Bold, combining historical charm with contemporary functionality.

Radek Łukasiewicz