Sans-serif typeface

designed by Dmitry Rastvortsev

Variable Font

3 axes: Midline, Contrast, Weight

25 Styles

7 Weights: Thin to Black
4 different contrast

Additional Scripts

Cyrillic

Best for

  • Headings (display text)
  • Long reading text (body text)
  • User Interfaces (functional text)

License

Free

Specialty

Kyiv*Type is a fascinating type series designed for Kyiv city identification. As a free variable font, it offers a lot of room for typographic expression with a weight, width and midline axis.

My thoughts on Kyiv*Type Sans

Kyiv*Type by Dmitry Rastvortsev is a fascinating type series designed for Kyiv city identification. It caught my attention as a variable font, offering a lot of room for typographic expression with a weight, width and midline axis. The letter forms are pretty distinct and some features are very unusual – like the g with its vertical ear, the triangular dots on the i, or the bend at the y. I love how contrasting it can become, especially in the bolder weights.

I’m always mesmerized by these kinds of variable font animations … Image by Dmitry Rastvortsev

All this makes Kyiv*Type Sans ideal for expressive display text. For a little body text it will work, but since some letter shapes are very attention grabbing, I would not recommend using it for very text heavy applications. It will look very noisy very quickly and distract from the content. The same goes for functional text – it’s rather wide and also a bit too much there. Also check out the even punchier companions Kyiv*Type Serif and Kyiv*Type Titling, which truly make this a type super family.

Recommended Font Pairing

If this typeface is too eccentric for in body text, I recommend pairing it with Beatrice, that also has a lot of interesting contrast going on. Alternatively, a geometric linear sans-serif typeface like Figtree makes a good match.

Kyiv*Type Sans (free)
Kyiv*Type Sans (free)
  • Headings
  • Copy
  • UI Text

Learn more about pairing typefaces using the Font Matrix.


But what do you think? Is Kyiv*Type Sans something for an upcoming project? Tell me in the comments below!

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Edition #25, published

5 Comments

  1. This Kyiv, especially Serif and Titling is very on its own. One of these personalities with strong statements, integrity. If I should choose a zodiac sign for Kyiv, it would be Aries or Taurus. I think I’m going to use some of the numbers or letter(s) alone, from the Serif, to serve not in a body text/headlines but as a design detail. The Sans version is okay for the copy!
    St. Petersburg? And I’ve expected you in the South, where the Sun shines. Com’ ooon

  2. It’s a pity the download link for the font is not working at the moment as the server cannot be reached, but I will try later. I like the idea of a font that celebrates the spirit and style of Kyiv.

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