Eschewing ornamentation, PF Expo's design is nobly rooted in simple, rational, and absolutely functional Roman forms. Circa 17th century the contrast between the thick and thin strokes of letters increased, oblique stressing transformed into upright stressing, round letterforms were compressed and bracketed serifs grew edgy and delicate. During that period and throughout the late 19th century, wood type manufacturers marketed design variations more quickly than type founders did, by devising a system to condense or expand type and creating secondary styles to bracketed serifs such as triangular shapes. Expo takes its cues from several condensed typefaces of that period particularly Latin Condensed as well as mid-20th century designs such as Vendome Condensed, and conveys a sharp elegance that creates a cohesive family with solid and provocative quality. The typeface’s abundance of thoughtful details excels at display sizes bringing its extravagant nature into the limelight. In particular, PF Expo’s carefully modeled serifs follow an artful logic of triangular symmetry, whilst at x-height, the slanted one-sided serifs in letters such as (n), (p), (r) blend effortlessly into the stems to foster a distinct identity. The abrupt cut at the joints -a visual trick that adds a certain flair to its type design, especially when used at large sizes- provides a unique functionality as it compensates for over-inking in lowercase. The type family’s narrow proportions offer an economy of space - a critical issue for headline use. In addition, the italic version alters dramatically the texture and rhythm with razor-sharp terminals that transform from dual-sided serifs to triangular upstrokes. Expo provides advanced typographic features including alternate glyphs with its character set extended for pan-European Latin support as well as Greek and Cyrillic. Exuding a strong, contemporary, and energetic personality, PF Expo’s modernized novelty is Parachute’s latest typographic installment to ensure an exemplary visual outcome. It received a TDC Certificate of Typographic Excellence in 2023.
