Sans Superellipse Sodan 13 is a very bold, narrow, medium contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Formata' by Berthold, 'Gotham' by Hoefler & Co., 'PTL Fabrik' by Primetype, and 'Akwe Pro' by ROHH (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, packaging, signage, branding, industrial, assertive, retro, compact, utilitarian, space saving, impact, sturdiness, uniformity, display emphasis, blocky, rounded corners, condensed, heavyweight, high impact.
This typeface is built from compact, heavy forms with a tall, condensed stance and tight internal counters. Curves resolve into rounded-rectangle (superellipse-like) bowls, giving letters such as C, G, O, and Q a squarish roundness rather than circular geometry. Strokes stay broadly consistent, with sturdy verticals and simplified joins that keep the texture dense and even in running text. Terminals are mostly blunt and clean, and the overall fit feels snug, producing a strong, dark typographic color.
It performs best in headlines and short bursts of copy where a dense, high-impact texture is an advantage—posters, packaging, signage, and bold branding lockups. The condensed proportions also help when space is limited, allowing large type to fit without losing presence.
The tone is forceful and no-nonsense, leaning industrial and workmanlike with a slightly retro poster feel. Its compact width and blocky rounding suggest efficiency and toughness rather than delicacy, making the voice feel direct and attention-seeking.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum impact in a compact footprint, using rounded-rectangle construction to keep forms simple, sturdy, and visually unified. It prioritizes a strong silhouette and consistent texture for confident display typography.
Uppercase characters present a particularly rigid, sign-like silhouette, while the lowercase maintains the same compact construction with tight apertures (notably in e, a, and s). Numerals match the lettering with similarly chunky shapes and rounded-square curves, supporting a consistent visual system across text and display settings.