Cern is a family of 40 weights of neutral, yet formally nuanced grotesk typefaces that takes inspiration from Helvetica, Akzidenz Grotesk, Univers and the original metal types from Switzerland, yet had a slightly larger x-height for more pronounced legibility.

Each weight is designed to be highly readable in print and on-screen. The italic variations are true italics, having a single-storied italic a and have been designed for smooth, fluid reading and text-setting. Lovingly spaced and kerned, the Cern family works equally well for text typesetting and for display design work.

Sans serif fonts, no matter how neutral they feel, are ultimately formally nuanced. I wanted to add to this legacy, but bring in elements of the grotesks of the Stephenson Blake foundry to add humanizing features, creating a formal and conceptual interplay to delight the senses.

Cern is the second family of typefaces that explores notions of nuanced neutrality and a Barthesian exploration of a fictional Switzerland that pervades contemporary design, disconnecting sign, symbol and meaning. Cern is the second family of typefaces in this larger project, following the release of the Vaud family.

The entire Cern family, 40 fonts, is available for a limited time for $49.00 from Wordshape and Creative Market.