Pure and precise, Lettra Mono is a fresh (and incredibly refreshing) approach to the monospaced genre, blending functional aesthetics with a sense of shapely surprise, drawing inspiration from both traditional typewriter serifs and meticulous botanical drawings alike. As a result, it’s undoubtedly fastidious and equally fun, introducing a distinctive twist with diamond-shaped details, strong vertical contrast, and a distinct visual rhythm – not to mention it’s quite a monster, too, with 16 Styles and matching Italics.

In our conversation with Francesca, we dive into her design process, exploring how Lettra Mono ’s clean, structured aesthetic emerged, and how a simple, practical font concept evolved into something greater than the sum of its parts. Walking us through the key decisions that make Lettra Mono so unique, from the intricacies of crafting consistent weights and proportions to the experimentation that led to its unconventional ligatures, Francesca details the versatile type family’s balances of form and function. Let’s go.

Hey Francesca! How’ve you been? Excited for Lettra Mono to be out in the wild?

Hi, all is good! Yes, I’m delighted and curious to have Lettra Mono finally released.

How long have you been working on Lettra, and what was the initial spark (or inspiration) behind it?

We began the initial sketches of Lettra Mono in late 2022, but the concept of designing a Serif Monospace had been on our minds for quite some time. Historically, Serif monospaced fonts are defined by strict functions and constraints. However, with Lettra, we had the liberty of making aesthetic choices that also served the function, but not always.

We wanted Lettra to be practical but also visually appealing, and different from what is out there already. We aimed to craft a design that feels both nostalgic and contemporary.

How does Lettra Mono ’s design add its own twist to the monospaced genre?

Lettra Mono stands out with several distinctive design elements that give it a unique and recognisable character. The font features striking diamond-shaped details and a strong vertical contrast, both of which contribute to its visual identity. Each character has been meticulously crafted to ensure consistent weight and proportion, creating a unique visual rhythm that enhances readability.

The type family is versatile, offering eight weights in both upright and italic styles to suit different design needs. It also features experimental elements like unique ligatures and specially designed characters, which adds a creative flair.

What was the process of designing it like? Were there any surprising challenges along the way?

The initial sketches were quite different from the final design. We began working on the font in 2022, which gave us time to sit with it. Initially, the font leaned more toward a traditional style, but Mat encouraged me to explore something unique, incorporating pointy terminals and distinctive diamond-shaped details. We had several discussions back and forth about these elements, which pushed the design in a distinctive direction.

This project was challenging, particularly in achieving the right weight, contrast and proportion in the details. The extra time allowed us to refine these aspects.

Lettra Mono stands out with its super clean, structured aesthetic. What decisions or details were key in achieving its signature look?

The structured aesthetic is the result of several design decisions which included a strong vertical contrast that draws inspiration from pointed pen tools. And the use of geometric elements as a general base for constructions.

Are there any specific letterforms in Lettra Mono that you’re particularly proud of or think best represent its character?

Maybe the R, m, g, both in roman and italic, and the punctuation are a good candidate to represent the font.

How do you see Lettra Mono evolving in the future?

A proportionally spaced version would allow for greater flexibility in design applications, making it suitable for even more contexts.

I also was inspired by the work Adoratorio did, and maybe a further collaboration with them to create symbols could be a fun perspective for the font. Their visuals are just stunning and help me to envision further.

Lettra Mono is free to try TODAY, with licences starting at only $30.