Studio René Bieder’s serif Kreol is a contemporary blend of the old, new, traditional and modern

Following the launch of his new website and type shop, René Bieder has released the first of eight new font families: Kreol. Referring to the mixed nature of the Kreol language – a blend of the languages of indigenous peoples and Europeans at the time of colonisation – the serif family is itself a blend in its own unique way. “A mixture of old and new, traditional and modern,” as Bieder describes it. Explaining this further, Bieder tells us that the typeface “has its origins in Scotch Roman typefaces, which developed at about the same time as the Creole languages.” Popular in the 19th century, these typefaces – with notably high-contrast strokes and large ball terminals – marked a revolutionary era in type design, designed to “attract attention” whilst breaking the norm. The Kreol family delivers a contemporary interpretation of this, simultaneously capturing the spirit of “an evergreen.” Rather than hone in on specific typefaces for inspiration, Bieder reveals he was drawn to the general “flavour” of the ones he had in mind, “influenced on the one hand by Pica No. 2 and on the other hand by the fantastic fonts used on old land and sea maps,” he adds. From these points of reference, he imbued the family with his own flair – one that he describes as “clear, fresh and modern” in contrast to serif typefaces with a more traditional look. Discussing the stand-out features that set Kreol apart from traditional typefaces in this genre, he explains, “it has the elegant character of a traditional old style, paired with the brute precision of a modern typeface.” This is exemplified, for example, in the pointed ‘R,’ or the spurless ‘a.’