Sans Other Merus 1 is a very bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Swiss 721' by Bitstream, 'Newhouse DT' by DTP Types, 'Helen Bg' by HS Fonts, 'Helvetica' by Linotype, 'CG Triumvirate' by Monotype, and 'Europa Grotesk SB' and 'Europa Grotesk SH' by Scangraphic Digital Type Collection (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, signage, packaging, logos, industrial, stenciled, poster, rugged, retro, stencil effect, space saving, impact display, industrial voice, slabbed terminals, ink-trap feel, chunky, compressed, cutout forms.
A heavy, compressed sans with prominent stencil-like cut-ins that split many strokes and counters. The forms are built from thick, mostly uniform strokes with flattened terminals and slightly softened corners, creating a chunky, utilitarian silhouette. Several letters show deliberate gaps and notches through bowls and stems (notably in O/0-like shapes and rounded characters), producing a cutout rhythm and strong black mass on the line. Spacing reads tight and display-oriented, with compact internal counters and sturdy vertical emphasis.
Best suited to headlines, posters, labels, and signage where bold impact and a stenciled texture are desirable. It can work well in branding marks and packaging that want an industrial or utilitarian voice, and it holds up when set large where the cut-ins become a distinctive graphic detail.
The overall tone feels industrial and workmanlike, like markings made for durability and fast recognition. Its stencil breaks add a tough, engineered character that reads retro-military and workshop-adjacent, while the compact proportions keep it punchy and assertive.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum presence in limited horizontal space while adding a functional, stencil-inspired construction. The consistent cutouts suggest a theme of fabricated or painted lettering, aiming for a robust display face with immediate, high-contrast silhouette recognition.
The stencil interruptions are consistent enough to function as a defining motif, giving repeated vertical ‘bridges’ and split counters that create texture across words. Numerals follow the same cutout logic, reinforcing a cohesive, signage-like system.