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Referenz Grotesk

Referenz Grotesk

by Sudtipos
Individual Styles from $49.00 USD
Complete family of 14 fonts: $199.00 USD
Referenz Grotesk Font Family was designed by Stefanie Schwarz, Dirk Wachowiak and published by Sudtipos. Referenz Grotesk contains 14 styles and family package options.

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About Referenz Grotesk Font Family


Made in Germany, Referenz Grotesk is a typeface full of references referring to the type design history of Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design. Its typographic history holds a broad spectrum of shapes and characters, including F.H. Ernst Schneidler (1882–1956), Imre Reiner (1900–1987), Walter Brudi (1907–1987), Kurt Weidemann (1922–2011) and Frank Heine (1964–2003).


During extensive research phases for Referenz Grotesk included collection and analysis. This led to further research in the Academy’s collection and archive where the majority of Weidemann’s estate is housed next to works of other designers and professors like F.H. Ernst Schneidler and Walter Brudi. Another place of research was the typesetting workshop where Schneidler had previously taught and worked. Some of his freshly cast fonts were tested and used there for the first time and are still stored in several of the type cases. Regarding the more recent history, for instance about the Emigre designer Frank Heine, former colleagues and professors have been consulted.


These studies resulted in the new font Referenz Grotesk that includes traces of Kurt Weidemann’s Corporate as well as calligraphic hints that link to Schneidler’s Stuttgarter Schule (Stuttgart School) where writing played an important role during the form finding process. For the regular text fonts these features are integrated in a subtle manner whereas several alternative glyphs pick up more expressive forms.


The final sans serif type family has a clarity and contemporary straightness that becomes more characteristic in its heavier weights. Additionally more than 60 alternative glyphs per weight allow for individual combinations that can be tailored specifically for each application and context. They open up a broad range of visual expressions, from subtle to playful and eccentric characteristics.


Referenz Grotesk is available in six weights: Light, Regular, Medium, Bold, Extra Bold and Black, plus italics. In addition, the family includes multiple OpenType functions such as Stylistic Sets, Tabular Figures and Case Sensitive forms. Variable version of the font is included when you license the full pack.

Designers: Stefanie Schwarz, Dirk Wachowiak

Publisher: Sudtipos

Foundry: Sudtipos

Design Owner: Sudtipos

MyFonts debut: Mar 17, 2020

Referenz Grotesk

About Sudtipos

Sudtipos is a new collective Argentinian type foundry. New blood, new attitude. A joint venture of four professional designers with lots of expertise in different areas like branding, packaging design, corporate identity, television and new media. “The foundry, or collective as we prefer to designate it, started because of that — packaging, editorial or brand designers making fonts for real designers” Alejandro Paul, one of the company’s founders, said in his Creative Characters interview. Alejandro “Ale” Paul made a name for himself drawing and programming some of the most intricate script fonts ever digitized. “My experience in branding product packaging was a natural catalyst for me to be interested in scripts and seek like-minded people for the collective.” The collective’s bestselling scripts include Bowling Script, Horizontes Script and Hipster Script Pro, which was named one of MyFonts’ most popular fonts of 2012, and was recognized by both Typographica and Type Directors Club that same year. “Our aim is to always be graphic designers making typefaces for graphic designers,” Ale said. “We try not to lose that particular focus. We’re always thinking about how to make a graphic designer’s work easier when it comes to using the type element in his or her design.”

The Premium Foundry Page can be viewed Here.

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