Slab Square Afnow 3 is a light, narrow, monoline, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: body text, editorial, captions, forms, packaging, typewriter, industrial, retro, utilitarian, space saving, text clarity, mechanical tone, classic utility, slab serif, square serif, condensed, high contrast, crisp.
This font is a condensed slab serif with mostly monoline construction and crisp, square-ended serifs. Strokes stay fairly even, while corners and joints are clean and rectilinear, giving the letterforms a taut, engineered rhythm. Counters are compact and vertical proportions are tall, with short crossbars and tight apertures that keep the texture dense and consistent. Numerals and capitals follow the same rigid geometry, producing a regular, columnar feel in lines of text.
It performs well where space efficiency and a consistent text color matter, such as editorial body copy, dense captions, and informational layouts. The sturdy slab detailing also suits utilitarian contexts like forms, labels, and packaging copy where a firm, no-nonsense voice is desired.
The overall tone feels typewriter-adjacent and workmanlike, with a sober, archival character. Its narrow stance and squared detailing read as practical and slightly retro, suggesting documents, labels, and mechanical-era printing rather than expressive or calligraphic voice.
The likely intention is to deliver a space-saving slab serif that preserves a clear, mechanical rhythm and a disciplined texture in running text. Its squared serifs and condensed proportions appear aimed at practical readability and a classic, document-oriented aesthetic.
The design leans on straight stems, firm terminals, and minimal stroke modulation, which makes repeated verticals feel steady and structured. Rounded letters keep a controlled curvature, staying close to an oval rather than a broad, open bowl, reinforcing the compact, utilitarian color on the page.