A TAPEface for resistance: meet OC WASHI, Otherwhere Collective’s vibrant, defiant tape-inspired font

OC WASHI, a distinctive, tape-inspired font – from independent multi-disciplinary design studio and type foundry Otherwhere Collective – is a natural evolution of their tape-made typeface OC REVOLT, and its most recent expanded version, OC REVOLT II. The original display typeface – in all its robust and rugged glory – was specifically crafted for protests which took place during the “T*#@p Brexit era” (2016-2020). “In these times, the priority is getting a message across with whatever tools are available at home,” Creative Director Andrew Bellamy tells us, explaining the significance of a protest-friendly font. “Think re-purposed Amazon boxes, fat markers, paint, and masking tape as tools for saying what you want to say. This is where REVOLT (and hence, REVOLT II) came from. Tape is a great way to write messages as most people have some at home, and they create wider lines than the average sharpie, therefore creating bigger, more noticeable letterforms.” WASHI expands on the concept of REVOLT II but with a passionate flair for “positive protest,” deriving its innovative spark from the delicate yet versatile washi tape, a Japanese masking tape crafted from rice paper and available in a kaleidoscope of colours. This tape, adored by creatives and journal enthusiasts worldwide, forms the robust foundation of the typeface. Unlike REVOLT II, which is based on painter’s tape, washi tape is semi-opaque, with overlapping areas appearing richer in colour. “To replicate this look,” Bellamy explains, “every character is composed of straight, individual ‘strips’, each on their own layer with a colour and subtle transparency applied. These layers are then applied on top of each other in the same way the real tape is.” As a result, WASHI is the world’s first semi-opaque tape-inspired layered colour font with extensive Open Type features. With an added touch of authenticity, the strips feature visible tears for an intentionally subversive, handmade appearance. “The heights, widths, spacing, and baseline positions of the characters vary,” Bellamy notes, “providing a dynamic visual experience that emphasises speed of communication over laborious craft.”