There is something straight-forward and no-nonsense about slab serifed typefaces. Calligraphic designs, on the other hand, evoke a sense of humanity and immediacy ¿ even intimacy. ITC Napoleone Slab combines both slab serif and calligraphic design traits into a single typeface design. Heady stuff. The result is unlike almost any other slab serif typeface.
According to designer Silvio Napoleone, “The concept developed from my explorations as a student in an independent lettering class. I sketched many historical letterforms by brush. I continued experimenting for several years after, sketching by hand and on the computer. Eventually, I chose the slab serif for production because of its distinctive design quality.”
ITC Napoleone Slab is exceptionally versatile. The family is economical in width and contains true italic designs, oldstyle numbers and a suite of special ligatures. According to Silvio, “Napoleone Slab was designed to work well at all sizes, and in on-screen applications.”
Silvio currently lives in Toronto, where he works for a “young, enthusiastic interactive firm.” His designs have been exhibited nationally and internationally, and his work was also part of a traveling exhibit for the American Institute of Graphic Arts.
