Slab Square Afbab 1 is a light, narrow, monoline, upright, short x-height font.
Keywords: editorial text, book typography, magazine heads, captions, posters, editorial, classic, bookish, measured, formal, space saving, readability, editorial tone, structural clarity, crisp, bracketless, square serif, high contrast, vertical stress.
A condensed serif with crisp, square-ended serifs and a largely even stroke color that reads cleanly at text sizes. The letterforms favor tall proportions and tight set widths, with straight-sided stems, compact bowls, and a restrained use of curves. Serifs are slabby and unbracketed, with flat terminals that give the shapes a sturdy, engineered finish; joins and counters stay relatively open for the width. Numerals follow the same narrow rhythm, with simple, legible constructions and consistent terminal treatment.
Well suited to editorial layouts where a compact serif can conserve space while keeping a disciplined, print-like texture—captions, sidebars, and dense text blocks in particular. The narrow proportions also make it effective for headlines and subheads in posters or magazine spreads when you want a classic serif tone without taking up much horizontal room.
The overall tone feels editorial and traditional, with a controlled, no-nonsense rhythm that suggests print typography and reference text. Its condensed stance and sharp serifs add a slightly authoritative, institutional flavor—more pragmatic than decorative.
The design appears intended to provide a space-efficient serif with sturdy slab terminals and a calm, readable rhythm, balancing a traditional typographic feel with a more structured, modern finish.
Across both uppercase and lowercase, the design maintains a steady vertical cadence, with clear differentiation between similar forms (e.g., I/l/1) helped by serifs and proportions. The texture remains orderly in paragraph settings, where the narrow set creates an efficient line length and a composed, typographic voice.