A sans serif for the ages: Tokotype’s hard-working Fonetika is instilled with a certain timelessness

With a design direction led by Founder & Design Director Gumpita Rahayu, Indonesian type foundry Tokotype’s typeface Fonetika elegantly combines classic neo-grotesque influences with modern typographic traits, culminating in a contemporary sans serif typeface that is both versatile and visually appealing. Under its umbrella of two variable families, the typeface features 32 styles and currently supports most common Latin languages, including Vietnamese. Fonetika’s name, derived from the Indonesian term for ‘phonetics,’ reflects the typeface’s connection to the sounds and rhythms of language. “This relationship struck a chord with me because, as a type designer, I feel that the sounds and rhythms of language are equally vital as the visual representation of those sounds,” Rahayu notes. With this in mind, Fonetika is a typeface that dances between sound and form, creating a delicate balance that defines human communication. Rahayu’s inspiration behind Fonetika was the timeless elegance of the Bauer Type Foundry’s Folio typeface. “I wanted to create a font family that would stand the test of time, a workhorse that was versatile and trustworthy in its use,” he explains. “Fonetika was born from the desire to create a font family that is both functional and attractive.”