Sans Normal Nomul 5 is a very bold, wide, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Bluteau Arabic Sans', 'Bluteau Hebrew Sans', and 'Bluteau Sans' by DSType; 'Halifax' by Hoftype; 'Mato Sans' by Picador; 'Agent Sans' by Positype; 'Aisling Sans' by S6 Foundry; and 'Tabac Sans' by Suitcase Type Foundry (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, branding, packaging, signage, friendly, confident, playful, retro, high impact, approachability, brand voice, display clarity, soft corners, rounded terminals, chunky, compact, sturdy.
This is a heavy, rounded sans with broad proportions and a smooth, monoline construction. Curves dominate the skeleton (notably in C, O, S, and numerals), while straight strokes end in softened, slightly angled terminals rather than sharp cuts. The counters are relatively tight for the weight, and joins are robust, giving the letters a dense, blocky presence. Overall spacing reads even and stable, with a consistent rhythm across caps, lowercase, and figures.
It’s well-suited to display work where strong impact and readability are needed, such as headlines, posters, packaging, and storefront or wayfinding-style signage. The sturdy shapes and rounded detailing also make it a good fit for branding systems aiming for a friendly, contemporary-retro voice.
The tone is bold and approachable, with a slightly retro, poster-like friendliness. Its softened edges and chunky silhouettes feel energetic and informal rather than technical or austere, conveying confidence without aggression.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum visual presence with approachable geometry: a bold sans that stays legible through simplified structures, ample curvature, and softened stroke endings, optimized for attention-grabbing display typography.
The lowercase includes clear, simple forms with single-storey a and g and compact bowls, helping maintain a cohesive, geometric feel at display sizes. Numerals are similarly rounded and weighty, matching the letterforms for strong typographic color in headlines.