Sans Contrasted Issi 8 is a very bold, very wide, high contrast, upright, normal x-height font.
Keywords: headlines, posters, logos, packaging, editorial, retro, funky, playful, punchy, quirky, display impact, retro flavor, brand voice, graphic texture, soft corners, bulbous, chunky, rounded, tapered.
A heavy, display-oriented sans with broad proportions and a strong, graphic silhouette. Letterforms rely on rounded bowls and flattened terminals, with frequent wedge-like tapers and sharp notches that create a lively, sculpted rhythm. Curves are generous and often egg-shaped, while straighter strokes stay blocky, producing a distinctive alternation of soft mass and crisp cuts. Counters tend to be small and sometimes partially closed by the heavy weight, emphasizing solid black shape over interior detail.
Best used for headlines, posters, and short bursts of text where its bold shapes and dramatic detailing can read clearly. It can add character to logos, packaging, and cover treatments, and works well in editorial display settings where a strong, retro-flavored voice is desired. For longer passages, larger sizes and generous spacing help maintain clarity as counters tighten.
The overall tone is bold and exuberant, with a distinctly retro, poster-like attitude. Its exaggerated shapes and dramatic cuts feel playful and slightly eccentric, leaning toward headline impact rather than neutrality. The texture reads as energetic and attention-seeking, suited to expressive branding and graphic statements.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum visual impact through massy forms, stylized tapers, and distinctive cut-ins, prioritizing personality and silhouette over quiet readability. It aims for a retro-inspired, display-first voice that remains cohesive across capitals, lowercase, and numerals.
Several glyphs feature pronounced incisions and asymmetrical joins (notably in diagonals and multi-stem letters), giving the design a hand-shaped, stylized feel despite its sans structure. The numerals share the same chunky, sculpted logic, keeping a consistent color in lines of text while remaining highly decorative at larger sizes.