Independent Graphic Designer, Adrien Jacquemet (@adrien.jacquemet) is the creator of the stunning font, Slash. As brand new release (now available through Type Department) it is currently produced in one singular style: Carved. A commendable design feat, Slash is a refined and energetic take on ancient craftsmanship in the digital age; tethering an imaginative rope between practices of Chinese calligraphy engravings on steles and the design sensibilities of today.
With the aim to translate the precarious and slightly unpredictable nature of hand carving, Slash is constructed through sharp edged, slanted, independent strokes which intersect and collide minimally to collect the shapes of the Latin alphabet. The curves of each stroke govern the aesthetic presence of Slash, imbuing it with the tactile energy of brush strokes and slivers of stone as they’re carved away; meaning its connection to the tactile past of ancient craftsmanship feels both sensitive and direct.
Slash doesn’t include any straight lines, nor a solid stem, and so visually, it relies very much on the minimal intersections between the strokes to string it together with coherence. It also means that there’s a real feeling of fluidity and liberation surrounding the font; it uses an extremely light touch to communicate a wealth of sensory and aesthetic knowledge. It very much feels that Jacquemet’s impeccable understanding of what to include – and crucially, what not to include – is the key to Slash’s success.
Having decided to include a maximum of just three intersections per glyph, Slash is suited to both display and body text. This allows for the integration of Chinese calligraphic aesthetics into a Latin character set in a way which is not overly complex, but which strongly echoes the shapes and and tone of Chinese calligraphy.
Slash is an exciting and extremely versatile font which falls in line with the notion of less is more. It is sleek, minimalistic and functional whilst being equally compelling and effective. Its visual mirroring of stone carvings is done with deep sensitivity; sparingly using its space and resources to call back to more ornate crafts, without overcrowding the senses. Suitable for a wide variety of uses, we can’t wait to see Slash put to work.
