Severus is a casual, monolinear blackletter that blends traditional forms with modern construction. Taking inspiration from Friedrich Unger's Unger Fraktur, as well as Rudolf Koch's Neuland, Severus breaks from convention by abstracting characteristics that define this genre of type. Conceptually, it also challenges the notion today that blackletter is only for display. The text version, which comes with accompanying italics, is designed to be legible at sizes as small as 5-point. Used as a family, Severus is versatile for most things including: event posters, indie zines, demotivational greeting cards, autobiographical novels, casual cease-and-desist letters, the menu for the new brunch spot, and scientific stuff.
Kris grew up in Seattle and attended Western Washington University's design program, during which time he experimented drawing custom type and lettering. He moved to San Francisco in 2015, where he continues to cultivate his love of type, his curiosity leading him to Type@Cooper West. He currently works at Dropbox as a product designer by day, and nudges beziers and letter-spacing by night. You can find Kris at @krismendoza_ on Instagram, or at twitter.com/krismendoza_.