Sans Superellipse Otlum 5 is a bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Pierce Jameson' by Grezline Studio, 'Midsole' by Grype, 'Nulato' by Stefan Stoychev, 'Gemsbuck Pro' by Studio Fat Cat, and 'Obvia Narrow' by Typefolio (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, signage, packaging, posters, ui labels, industrial, technical, utilitarian, modern, space-saving, clarity, systematic geometry, strong presence, squared, rounded, compact, sturdy, blocky.
A compact, squared sans built from rounded-rectangle geometry, with softly radiused corners and a consistent, even stroke presence. Curved letters such as C, G, O, and Q read as squarish superellipses, while straight-sided forms keep tight, economical proportions. Counters are relatively small and openings are controlled, giving the face a dense color in text. Terminals tend to be flat and decisive, and the overall rhythm is uniform and engineered rather than calligraphic.
Best suited to bold display situations where compact width and strong, squared curves help text stay legible at a distance or in limited space. It works well for headlines, signage, packaging, wayfinding, and UI labels that benefit from a sturdy, engineered look.
The tone is functional and contemporary, with an industrial, equipment-label feel. Its rounded-square construction adds a friendly softness to an otherwise tough, no-nonsense voice, suggesting modern hardware, transit systems, or technical interfaces.
The design appears intended to translate rounded-square geometry into a practical, high-impact sans for modern applications. By keeping curves superelliptical and details simplified, it prioritizes clarity, consistency, and a distinctive technical personality across letters and figures.
The numerals share the same rounded-rectangular logic (notably 0 and 8), supporting a cohesive typographic system. Lowercase forms appear single-storey where expected (e.g., a, g), reinforcing a simplified, pragmatic character that stays consistent from caps to text settings.