Slab Square Sumen 8 is a regular weight, wide, medium contrast, italic, normal x-height font.
Keywords: magazines, book design, headlines, pull quotes, branding, editorial, literary, classic, confident, formal, editorial voice, readability, expressive italic, strong presence, bracketed serifs, calligraphic, oldstyle, lively rhythm, diagonal stress.
A slanted serif design with sturdy, slab-like feet and visibly bracketed joins that soften the otherwise strong terminals. Strokes show moderate contrast with a calligraphic, diagonally stressed feel, producing a lively rhythm in text. Proportions are generously set with open counters and broad capitals; the italic construction introduces cursive-like movement in letters such as a, e, f, and y while maintaining a robust, print-oriented texture. Figures are italic to match, with clear, oldstyle-like shapes and consistent weight across curves and stems.
Well-suited to magazines, book typography, and other editorial settings where an italic serif can carry long-form reading while still offering personality. It also works effectively for headlines, subheads, and pull quotes that need a confident, classical tone with added motion.
The overall tone is editorial and literary, combining a classic bookish voice with a more assertive, contemporary presence from the heavier serifs and broad stance. It feels energetic and expressive without becoming ornamental, projecting clarity and confidence in running text and display lines alike.
The design appears intended to deliver an italic serif with strong, slab-influenced serifs and a readable, editorial texture—balancing traditional italic calligraphy with a sturdier, more graphic finish for modern publishing contexts.
The strong serifs and slanted axis create crisp word shapes and pronounced entry/exit strokes, which helps headings feel emphatic. The broad spacing and open forms keep paragraphs from looking cramped, while the italic angle gives the face a distinct, forward motion.