Swiss Grid, Ethiopian Soul

Exploring what Helvetica would look like if it had full Ethiopic support. Can pure modernism work for the Ge’ez script?

Typography is how language wears its history. But what if we applied the world’s most famous modernist typeface to one of the world’s oldest living writing systems?

This exploration is a “what if” scenario: designing Ethiopic support for Helvetica. When adapting a script like Ge’ez, which has deep calligraphic traditions and varying stroke contrasts into a neo-grotesque sans-serif, you have to walk a fine line. You want global visual consistency, but you can’t compromise cultural authenticity.

Here is a look at how I balanced the math of the Swiss grid with the movement of the Ethiopic script. I’d love to hear from other designers and readers, does this capture the essence of both worlds?

✍️ **TypeHabesha**