Referential Mono Typeface
Referential Mono is built on a 5x5 grid, inspired by early computing and Islamic History. As a developer and Muslim, this typeface was an opportunity to combine many aspects of my identity in one project.
Ongoing work includes: an Arabic version, motion design, and generative typography.
Currently in use: Applied Designer (my MFA Thesis)
A scale change shows the legibility of the letterforms.
History often overlooks the contributions of non-European mathematicians, so this was an important reference.
Final classroom critique with Simon Johnston and Lavinia Lascaris.
Referential Mono was one of five typefaces selected for HMCT’s 2023 holiday greetings email and social media posts.
I began designing the Arabic character set which has a different set of complexities. In this first draft I remained rigid to the same grid as the Latin character set (7x7 without letter-spacing since Arabic is a connected script). In doing so, I found some forms do not reduce down as nicely as I would like. The next revision I will try is on a 14x14 grid, subdividing the current grid in half.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to instructors Simon Johnston, Lavinia Lascaris, and Greg Lindy with additional feedback from mentors Milka Broukhim and Wael Morcos.