Distressed Teke 5 is a bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Neusa Neu' by Inhouse Type and 'Nuber Next' by The Northern Block (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, packaging, headlines, labels, signage, grunge, rustic, handmade, vintage, punchy, add grit, evoke printwear, compact impact, diy character, rough edges, inked, worn, condensed, blocky.
A condensed, heavy sans with squared proportions and softened corners, drawn with uneven, slightly wobbly strokes. The outlines show deliberate irregularities—nicked edges, subtle bulges, and patchy contour roughness—suggesting worn printing or ink spread rather than clean geometry. Counters are compact and simple, terminals are mostly blunt, and overall spacing feels tight, creating a dense, high-impact texture in lines of text.
Works best for display applications where a gritty, printed texture is desired—posters, bold headlines, product labels, and packaging. It can also fit rustic or industrial-themed signage and branding, especially when you want a condensed footprint with strong visual weight.
The font reads as tough and workmanlike, with a tactile, imperfect finish that evokes DIY lettering, rough stamping, and aged signage. Its narrow stance and dark color give it a forceful, no-frills attitude, while the distressed edges add grit and personality.
The design appears intended to deliver a compact, high-impact sans voice while baking in a worn, imperfect surface to avoid a sterile look. It aims for quick legibility at display sizes and a distinctly tactile, analog feel reminiscent of stamped or screen-printed lettering.
In the samples, the distress remains consistent across sizes, producing a cohesive “printed” grain without turning into extreme fragmentation. The figures and uppercase maintain strong presence, and the lowercase carries a utilitarian, straightforward rhythm suited to short bursts of copy.