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poesie.xyz is an online magazine for poetry in German. Its aim is to publish new and exciting poetry that is yet unpublished. The magazine’s design should also reflect the same excitement and “freshness” as its content. Since the magazine does not use any images or other means of illustration, the feeling has to be expressed through type.

Currently, the magazine features 40 Degrees by Kilotype as its heading typeface. Its playful demeanor and its colorfulness (using the Nectarine Sunset preset) support the feelings to be evoked. The provided color variations also provide grounds for future changes to the magazine’s look and feel. The other colors used for links and smaller headings follow the colors of the main typeface. Part of the goal of poesie.xyz is to play with expressive type, so the heading typeface will be changed regularly.

The poems are set in Abordage released by Velvetyne, originally designed by Eugénie Bidaut as a revival of a design by the fictional type designer Ange Degheest – part of a larger project and exhibition. The choice was, again, easy. Abordage is simply a marvel to look at. That curvy r or that curly a. And not to forget, the ligatures; ft for example. The typeface evokes a feeling of warmth and timelessness, yet is still highly legible and elegant.

Since Abordage does not have any other styles, a third typeface was needed for italic and bold styles. And the choice fell once again on a Velvetyne typeface, Happy Times at the IKOB, designed by Lucas Le Bihan. Now this might be a rather unconventional pairing, but due to the almost identical x-height when compared to Abordage, it works surprisingly well.

Poem in mobile view

Abordage up close; marvel at the ft ligature

Poem including comment

List of authors