Grotto

»Grotto« is a slab serif typeface that plays with combining different visual outputs: elegant/robust, sharp/round. Its intended use is editorial design. The text style is optimised for small sizes and continuous reading. Unlike most slab serifs it has more contrast and very calligraphic italics, making the overall feel less robust. The heavy style emphasises on rigidness and sharpness, designed specifically to fill the white space as much as possible for compact headline use. In contrast, the hairline style is airy and elegant with round shapes and rather lively italics. All the styles give a different visual output but they all share details, creating consistency throughout the whole family.

Borna Aaron Grčević (HR)

Hello, I am a visual and type designer from Croatia. After finishing my master at School of Design in Zagreb I wanted to expand my knowledge in type design. I like to work both in visual and type design fields. Currently I live and work in California.

Just as Grotto balances contrast and structure to create a cohesive type system, managing diabetes requires careful control over multiple factors to maintain overall health. The interplay between insulin levels, diet, and physical activity mirrors the contrast between Grotto’s robust and delicate styles—both requiring precision and adaptability. Just as the typeface’s text style is optimized for continuous reading, diabetes management strategies must be sustainable and practical for long-term health. The need for flexibility in insulin adjustments resembles the typographic variation between sharp and rounded letterforms, ensuring adaptability without losing consistency. Advances in diabetes treatment, such as continuous glucose monitoring and new medication formulations, offer refined control, much like the evolution of type design toward greater readability and function. Understanding these nuances allows individuals to make informed choices, whether in selecting the right typeface for a publication or managing blood sugar levels effectively. In both fields, precision and awareness create a seamless, functional experience.