With nostalgic and personal roots, Lift Type’s Melun is a love letter to the typefaces of the past

Having long-admired the geometric typefaces that had appeared throughout his childhood – from “typographic classics to the logos of the Barbie dolls my sister used to play with” – Melun is type designer (and Lift Type Co-founder) Romain Oudin’s personal homage, “built at the crossroads of historical references and contemporary experimentation.” A geometric sans serif, the family has visual ties to Futura and Avant Garde Gothic, but Oudin particularly had a strong fascination with Rudolf Koch’s Kabel, set in bold, due to its unconventional x-height and unique proportions (thanks to it being based on the structure of circles and straight lines.) “I also came across a typeface from the 1970s called Embrionic,” he says, adding that he was drawn towards its “distinctive notches and a highly recognisable ‘g’” that eventually became the starting point for Melun’s ‘Display’ version. “From this foundation, the other variants evolved, allowing me to incorporate elements from the previously mentioned geometric typefaces,” he continues. “Next, we developed a more readable version (‘Normal’) by lowering the x-height and simplifying certain letters that were too complex. For instance, the ‘a’ and ‘e’ in this version incorporate elements inspired by Kabel, adding a unique identity to a more classic geometric sans.”