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Fonts That Make Me Giddy: Rotundus

  • Modern and elegant, this condensed typeface feels classy and almost timeless. And yet, as all giddiness-inducing fonts do, it has a style all its own.

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So, I know it’s supercool to talk about fonts all the time. For proof I only need to look to Brick Heck from The Middle.

But every once in a while, I just have to talk typeface. So, on to our regularly scheduled programming, let’s take a closer look at Rotundus.

All About Rotundus

As the name implies, Rotundus is round where other typefaces are not. The precise lines and curves make it feel a bit architectural. The lowercase M and N are simple unadorned arches, very much dome-like, without the usual stem protruding beyond the curve. The uppercase M and N follow suit, making type set in all caps feel almost like a unicase variant.

Rotundus doesn’t believe in normal – just look at the lowercase Y or Q. It has some other unique letterforms as well, like the lowercase A that looks like a backwards capital D, or the numeral 4.

Here is how Rotundus interprets the a, b, m, k, q, 4, 6, 8, x, y, and z.

A Family Affair

The Rotundus family ranges from Light to Black Italic font variants.

The four weights of Rotundus. Image source: myfonts.com

Don’t Forget the Extended Family…

For a bit of a softer appeal, try Rotundus Rounded. Y’know, to take the edge off.

When Rotundus isn’t quite round enough, Rotundus Rounded softens the edges to get rid of those sharp corners.

Where to Use Rotundus

While I wouldn’t necessarily use it for body copy, Rotundus does have a nice readability even at smaller sizes. So, in addition to headlines and titles, it would be nice to use for maybe an intro paragraph, callout, or pullquote to give a little variety.

Rotundus has unique letterforms and feels contemporary, so while it is classy, it might not be the best fit for something ultra conservative. But if you want to communicate elegance with just a *hint* of quirk, Rotundus could be the very type family you’re looking for! Head over to MyFonts if you’d like to pick it up.

(By the way, if Brick peaked your curiosity about the difference between font and typeface or the importance of kerning, I’ve got you covered. Read on, my type-loving friend. Read on.)

Nyla Smith

Nyla Smith

Nyla is a Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Front-End Web Developer and Consultant with over 15 years of experience. She is the owner of n-Vision Designs, LLC in Hampton Roads, Virginia, which exists to provide marketing support and brand consulting to small- and medium-sized businesses needing creative solutions. Contact Nyla if you'd like to discuss your next creative project. She can usually be bribed to a meeting with a cup of green tea and an oatmeal cookie.

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