Sans Superellipse Otrab 9 is a bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, tall x-height font visually similar to 'Elephantmen Great & Tall' and 'Space Race' by Comicraft; 'EFCO Fairley' by Ephemera Fonts; and 'Beachwood', 'Hyperspace Race', and 'Hyperspace Race Capsule' by Swell Type (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, branding, packaging, signage, industrial, tech, utilitarian, retro, assertive, impact, space saving, industrial clarity, geometric consistency, condensed, rounded corners, squared bowls, compact apertures, blocky.
This typeface uses compact, vertical proportions with sturdy, even strokes and tightly controlled counters. Curves resolve into rounded-rectangle forms, giving bowls and terminals a squared-off, superelliptical feel rather than true circles. Corners are consistently softened, while joins and bends stay crisp, producing a clean, engineered rhythm. The lowercase is compact and tall in relation to capitals, and the numerals follow the same blocky, rounded-corner construction for a uniform texture across mixed content.
Best suited to attention-grabbing settings such as headlines, posters, brand marks, and packaging where a condensed, high-impact word shape is desirable. It can also work for signage and interface labels when set with generous size and spacing to preserve clarity in the tighter interiors.
The overall tone is tough and functional, with a slightly retro-technical flavor reminiscent of industrial labeling and display typography. Its dense silhouette and squared curves read as confident and purposeful, leaning more toward engineered clarity than friendliness.
The design appears intended to deliver a strong, space-efficient display voice built from rounded-rectangle geometry. By prioritizing compact width, consistent stroke weight, and softened corners, it aims for a modern industrial look that remains clean and highly legible at large sizes.
Apertures and inner counters are relatively compact, which increases perceived solidity and helps headlines feel punchy. The family’s superellipse geometry keeps round letters (like O, Q, and 0) consistent with straight-sided forms, supporting a cohesive, signage-like voice.