Hot Type’s Marko Hrastovec on taking clues from the past to make typefaces for the here and now

After more than four years of development and bespoke client commissions, Marko Hrastovec’s Hot Type has gone public – launching in the latter stages of 2021 with a refined collection of three typefaces – Punta, Stroy Grotesk and Stroy Mono. Based in Croatia, their mission is to add a fresh and original edge to historical models and cultural legacies discovered through in-depth research; blending the old with the new to create typefaces that balance flavour with form. EM: Hi Marko, how’s the new year been going for you so far? MH: Hi! We’ve been busy preparing the next Hot Type release that is going to be Hot Sans, a simple utilitarian design we already use on hottype.co. It’s something like a club sandwich, everybody has one, and it never seems to get old. Last month we moved studios into a new shared creative space with a couple of friends and have plans there for exhibitions, events and generally socialising if anybody remembers that one. Maybe we’ll even make a pop-up pizza event there too.