Sans Superellipse Otley 1 is a bold, normal width, monoline, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Ciutadella' by Emtype Foundry, 'Letteria Pro' by Latinotype, 'Joe College NF' by Nick's Fonts, 'Navine' by OneSevenPointFive, 'Gemsbuck Pro' by Studio Fat Cat, 'Gendis' by Surotype, 'Nuber Next' by The Northern Block, and 'Manual' by TypeUnion (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, branding, signage, packaging, confident, modern, functional, bold, friendly, impact, clarity, modernity, solidity, approachability, rounded corners, compact, high contrast (mass), closed apertures, blocky.
A heavy, compact sans with a superelliptical construction: curves feel like rounded rectangles and corners are consistently softened rather than fully circular. Strokes are broadly even, with squared terminals and tight, efficient counters that keep the silhouette dense and punchy. Proportions lean wide in rounds (O, Q, 0) while verticals stay sturdy and straight, producing a steady, block-like rhythm. Lowercase forms are simple and robust, with a single-storey a and g and minimal modulation across the set.
Best suited to headlines, posters, and branding where strong weight and compact shapes create immediate emphasis. It also fits signage, packaging, and UI moments that need sturdy labels and buttons, especially at medium-to-large sizes where the rounded-rect geometry reads clearly.
The overall tone is confident and no-nonsense, with a contemporary, industrial friendliness coming from the rounded corners. It reads as assertive and practical rather than delicate, giving text a strong, utilitarian presence.
The letterforms appear designed to deliver maximum impact with a clean, contemporary voice, using superelliptical curves and consistent corner rounding to stay friendly while remaining solid and highly legible at display sizes.
The design favors compact internal spaces and relatively closed apertures, which increases impact at larger sizes but can make dense text feel darker. Numerals match the letterforms in weight and corner treatment, maintaining a consistent, signage-like solidity.