Kawana Display Typeface
Kawana is a display typeface I designed as part of an ongoing exploration of structure, proportion, and cultural form in typography.
Its letterforms are informed by trapezoidal geometry inspired by Inca architecture, translated into a contemporary typographic system focused on clarity, rhythm, and presence.
The typeface was developed to test how a single structural rule could guide an entire alphabet without becoming decorative or rigid.
Trapezoidal forms are integrated into each letter through both positive and negative space, allowing the system to remain cohesive while adapting to different shapes and counters.
While the underlying geometry remains consistent, individual letters adjust to accommodate curves, diagonals, and internal counters.
This balance between consistency and flexibility allows Kawana to function as a system rather than a collection of individual shapes.
Kawana is currently used across independent projects where typography plays a central role in setting tone and voice, including Perú de Fiesta, an ongoing documentary project exploring Peruvian traditions.
