Off Serif

Student: André do Carmo Gonçalves
Classification: Didone (Modern Serif – R-Vox)
Variation Axis: Weight (5 instances: Regular to ExtraBold)

Off Serif is a high-contrast, modern serif display typeface developed as part of an assignment exploring the stroke theory of Gerrit Noordzij. While rooted in the foundational hand, it deliberately deviates from tradition to evoke a delicate balance between familiarity and strangeness — making it adaptable to diverse yet non-specific design contexts.

“Detail of the lowercase ‘r’ and uppercase ‘R’ in ExtraBold weight, showing the pronounced contrast between the stem and the thin, inverted serif.”

With a narrow width and sharp personality, Off Serif features thin, inverted serifs and rectangular, weighty terminals, particularly evident at higher weights. These unique traits lend the typeface both elegance and tension, offering a fresh take on the Didone model through five weight variations: Regular, Medium, SemiBold, Bold, and ExtraBold.

By Pedro Amado

Pedro Amado. Associate Professor at FBAUP. Integrated researcher of the i2ADS research institute.