Slab Square Irna 5 is a bold, wide, low contrast, italic, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Gimbal Egyptian' by AVP, 'Archer' by Hoefler & Co., 'Equip Slab' by Hoftype, 'Brignell Slab' by IB TYPE Inc., and 'Madley' by Kimmy Design (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, branding, packaging, magazine titles, confident, retro, sporty, editorial, assertive, impact, emphasis, headline clarity, brand presence, vintage nod, chunky, bracketed, ink-trap hint, compact counters, soft corners.
A heavy, right-leaning slab serif with broad proportions, sturdy stems, and minimal stroke modulation. Serifs are thick and blocky with subtle bracketing, producing a dense, grounded texture. Curves are generously rounded and counters stay fairly compact, giving the lowercase a robust, slightly compressed feel while maintaining clear letter differentiation. The numerals and capitals carry the same weighty, engineered rhythm, and the overall spacing reads open enough for display while still forming a strong, continuous line in text.
This font is well suited to headlines and short-to-medium display text where a strong, emphatic voice is needed—posters, sports or event branding, packaging, and magazine-style titles. It can also work for pull quotes or section headers, where its sturdy slabs and forward slant help create clear hierarchy and momentum.
The tone is confident and energetic, with a vintage editorial and poster-like presence. Its combination of hefty slabs and forward slant suggests motion and emphasis, lending a sporty, attention-grabbing character without becoming decorative.
The design appears intended to deliver high-impact readability with a classic slab-serif foundation, combining sturdy construction and a pronounced slant for dynamic emphasis. It aims to feel both familiar and forceful, balancing traditional serif structure with a bold, contemporary display presence.
In the sample text, the slanted forms create a pronounced directional flow, while the thick serifs anchor each word and keep lines feeling stable. Round characters (like O and e) feel full and smooth, and diagonals (like V, W, X) read strong and angular, reinforcing the font’s punchy, headline-friendly rhythm.