Sans Normal Ornay 17 is a very bold, narrow, low contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'Faculty' by Device, 'Gotham' by Hoefler & Co., 'Prelo Condensed' by Monotype, and 'Artico' by cretype (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: headlines, posters, signage, packaging, branding, assertive, industrial, modern, utilitarian, punchy, space saving, high impact, clear labeling, modern signage, condensed, blocky, compact, square-shouldered, crisp.
This is a compact, heavy sans with a condensed stance and strongly filled-in counters. Curves are tightened into rounded-rect forms, giving letters a sturdy, blocklike silhouette and a consistent, even stroke color. Terminals are mostly blunt and clean, with simple joins and minimal modulation, producing a crisp rhythm in both uppercase and lowercase. The lowercase reads as straightforward and workmanlike, with single-storey forms and a squared, no-nonsense construction that keeps shapes legible at a glance.
Best suited to headlines, posters, signage, and packaging where a compact width and strong presence help text stay prominent. It also works well for bold branding lockups, labels, and short UI or navigation phrases where quick recognition is more important than long-form comfort.
The overall tone is bold and directive, leaning modern and functional rather than friendly or expressive. Its compact density and strong black presence suggest an industrial, signage-forward voice that prioritizes impact and clarity.
The design appears intended to deliver maximum visual impact in limited horizontal space, keeping letterforms simple, compact, and highly consistent. Its geometry and firm terminals aim for dependable readability and a strong graphic stamp across large sizes.
Numerals and capitals share the same compact, poster-ready proportions, creating a uniform, headline-oriented texture. The tight internal spaces and sturdy outlines make the type feel especially solid in all-caps settings and short bursts of text.