Sans Superellipse Penov 1 is a very bold, very narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Mervato' by Arterfak Project, 'FF Good' and 'FF Good Headline' by FontFont, 'East' by Tarallo Design, and 'Tablet Gothic' by TypeTogether (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, packaging, signage, sports branding, industrial, condensed, assertive, sporty, retro, space saving, high impact, signage clarity, modern utility, blocky, rounded, compact, punchy, sturdy.
A compact, heavy sans with rounded-rectangle (superellipse) construction throughout. Strokes are thick and even, with minimal modulation and tight, efficient counters that keep the texture dense. Curves terminate in softened corners rather than sharp joints, and many forms show a slightly squared bowl/arc geometry that reads as engineered and contemporary. The overall rhythm is strongly vertical with condensed proportions and short extenders, producing a tight, poster-like silhouette in both uppercase and lowercase.
This font is best suited to headlines and short statements where dense, high-impact letterforms are an advantage. It can work well for packaging, labels, wayfinding, and bold UI callouts where compact width helps fit more characters per line. It is less ideal for long-form reading at small sizes due to its tight counters and heavy texture.
The tone is bold and direct, with a utilitarian, workmanlike confidence. Its rounded corners soften the impact just enough to feel approachable, while the condensed heft keeps it energetic and attention-seeking. The result balances modern industrial clarity with a faintly retro, signage-like flavor.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum impact in limited horizontal space while staying clean and modern. Rounded-rectangular construction and uniform stroke weight suggest a focus on sturdy legibility, consistent texture, and a contemporary, industrial feel for display-oriented typography.
Uppercase forms stay simple and block-driven, while the lowercase introduces more idiosyncratic, compact shapes that enhance personality at display sizes. Numerals and punctuation carry the same rounded-square logic, helping the font maintain a consistent, tightly packed color across lines.