Slab Square Urby 4 is a light, wide, low contrast, italic, normal x-height font.
Keywords: editorial, book text, magazines, quotations, branding, literary, classic, refined, scholarly, readability, editorial tone, classic polish, measured emphasis, bracketed, calligraphic, bookish, crisp, airy.
A slanted serif with crisp, slab-influenced terminals and mostly flat-ended strokes. The letterforms are built with open counters and generous spacing, giving the face an airy rhythm and clear word shapes. Serifs read as sturdy and squared with subtle bracketing, while joins and curves stay smooth and controlled, keeping the overall texture even and calm. Numerals follow the same restrained construction, with clear, readable forms that sit comfortably alongside the text.
It works well for editorial typography such as magazines, essays, and longform reading where a calm, refined texture is desired. The slanted forms also make it a strong choice for pull quotes, intros, captions, and brand voice applications that want a classic, cultivated feel without heavy ornament.
The font projects a bookish, literary tone—measured, traditional, and slightly formal. Its italic stance adds a gentle sense of motion and emphasis without becoming flamboyant, making it feel suited to thoughtful, editorial settings rather than overt display.
The design appears intended to deliver a traditional serif reading experience with an italic-forward personality and slab-leaning terminals for added firmness. It aims for dependable legibility and a composed page color while providing a subtly distinctive, editorial character.
Across capitals and lowercase, the design maintains consistent slant and a steady baseline presence, with clean diagonals and confident horizontals. The overall impression is disciplined and legible, favoring clarity and typographic restraint over decorative detail.