Slab Contrasted Ihse 2 is a very bold, narrow, medium contrast, italic, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Malaga' by Emigre (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, branding, packaging, sportswear, retro, western, sporty, poster, assertive, high impact, vintage display, compact emphasis, headline strength, slab serif, wedge terminals, bracketed serifs, beaked forms, ink-trap feel.
A heavy italic slab-serif with compact proportions and a lively, forward-leaning rhythm. Strokes are robust with noticeable modulation, pairing thick stems with tapered joins and chunky, squared slabs that often read as wedge-like terminals. Counters are relatively tight, curves are full and slightly squared off, and several letters show beaked or hooked details that add bite to the silhouettes. The texture is dense and energetic, with strong horizontal stress cues from the serifs and angled cuts that keep the forms from feeling static.
Best suited for headlines, titling, and short bursts of copy where impact and personality matter more than quiet readability. It works well in posters, logos/branding, packaging labels, and apparel or sports-oriented graphics, especially when a retro or sign-painterly slab-serif voice is desired.
The overall tone is bold and attention-seeking, blending a vintage display flavor with a punchy, competitive edge. Its slanted stance and muscular slabs evoke classic poster and headline typography with a hint of Western and athletic signage character. The result feels confident, high-impact, and a little playful in its exaggerated shapes.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum presence in a compact, italicized footprint, using heavy slabs and tapered joins to create speed, weight, and character. It prioritizes a distinctive display texture and strong silhouettes for attention-grabbing typography in promotional and identity contexts.
The numerals and capitals are especially blocky and emphatic, while lowercase forms keep the same heavy construction and slanted momentum for consistent color in text. The serif treatment stays visually prominent across the set, helping maintain a strong baseline and a distinctive silhouette at display sizes.