Slab Contrasted Onby 1 is a very bold, narrow, medium contrast, upright, tall x-height font visually similar to 'AZ Varsity' by Artist of Design and 'Buffalo Circus' and 'Buffalo Western' by Kustomtype (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, headlines, signage, logotypes, packaging, western, circus, vintage, playful, bold, attention-grabbing, retro signage, theatrical branding, ornamental display, tuscan, stencil-like, decorative, chunky, notched.
A heavy, compact slab serif with tall lowercase and tightly set proportions. The letterforms use strong rectangular stems and blocky slabs, interrupted by consistent, rounded side notches that create a stencil-like, Tuscan rhythm across the alphabet. Curves are full and weighty, terminals are blunt, and counters are relatively small, giving the design a dense, poster-forward texture. Numerals and capitals follow the same cut-in motif, maintaining a uniform, ornamental silhouette in both display lines and single-glyph settings.
Best suited to display applications such as posters, headlines, event branding, and signage where its bold, ornamental slabs can carry the composition. It can also work for distinctive logotypes and packaging labels that want a vintage or Western flavor, especially when set large with comfortable spacing.
The notched slabs and chunky forms evoke classic Western wood type and circus-era signage, projecting a confident, showman-like tone. It reads as nostalgic and attention-seeking, with a hint of playful theatricality due to the repeated side cutouts and punchy shapes.
The design appears intended to reinterpret slab-serif wood-type traditions with a consistent notched treatment that adds character and instant recognizability. Its primary goal is high-impact display presence with a decorative, period-evocative voice rather than quiet text neutrality.
The repeated side incisions are a defining feature and become more prominent at larger sizes, where the interior shaping reads as intentional ornament rather than distortion. In longer text, the dense color and tight counters can feel heavy, so it benefits from generous tracking and ample leading when used in multi-line settings.