Developed by the Swiss design studio Maximage, Programme is an innovative typeface which is based both on calligraphy and computer programming. The typeface was developed with the help of scripting technology.
The project started from the rather raw idea that a font’s DNA is entirely contained in the calligraphic letters “o” and “n.” From these two glyphs, it was thought that a computer program could build the full Latin alphabet, since a typeface is actually made out of a limited set of shapes that are repeated in all of its characters. The typeface was eventually optimized for both text and display uses. In some cases, the imperfections of the program have not been retouched to preserve the type’s original essence. This is why Programme exists in a rougher style as well as in a more refined one.
The first version of Programme was featured in JRP Ringier’ 2009 book Typeface as Program. The book provides an overview of a series of projects related to programming and type design, which took place at the École cantonale d’art de Lausanne (ECAL).
More about the collection >Programme 11 styles
Contextual Alternates
Contextual Alternates [calt]
This feature adapts the position of a glyph after its surrounding context. For instance, a dash placed between two uppercase letters or numbers will be replaced by an uppercase version of the dash, slightly higher. This feature is usually active by default in Adobe applications.
Tabular Lining Figures
Tabular Lining Figures [tnum–lnum]
Based on the proportions of the capitals, lining figures have an invariable height. With the combination of the tabular spacing format, the width of each numeral is uniformized. This feature is useful when numerals need to all lined up. It facilitates the reading of numbers set within columns or tables. As some applications don’t have access to this feature, proportional figures are set as the default choice.
Proportional Oldstyle Figures
Proportional Oldstyle Figures [pnum–onum]
Based on the design of the lowercase, oldstyle figures have varying ascenders and descenders. Like most of the letters, each number has an appropriate width based on its shape. The combination of oldstyle figures with proportional setting generate numerals perfectly adapted for text.
Fractions
Fractions [frac]
With this feature, any numbers separated by a slash will automatically turn into a fraction. To fit in fraction configuration, numerals have been designed smaller and their weights have been adjusted to suit the typeface.
3/4 3/8 5/8 7/8
3/4 3/8 5/8 7/8
Ordinals
Ordinals [ordn]
This feature replaces any letter following a numeral with its matching superior letters. French language uses the ordinal indicators such as ‘er’ for 1er premier, while Spanish, Portuguese and Italian require the feminine and masculine ordinals ‘a,’ ‘o’ for 1º, 1ª. Ordinals are designed to match the weight of the typeface.
Slashed Zero
Slashed Zero [zero]
Originally created to avoid the confusion between the ‘0’ and the ‘O’, this feature substitutes all zeros in a selected text by a slashed form of the zero.
Numerators
Numerators [numr]
This feature substitutes glyphs with their matching smaller alternates. The numerators are the same glyphs that are used to create fractions, their vertical position remains within the capital letters height. These glyphs are reduced in size and designed slightly heavier to keep them consistent with the rest of the font.
Habcdefghijklmn
Hopqrstuvwxyz()[].,
Habcdefghijklmn
Hopqrstuvwxyz()[].,
Denominators
Denominators [dnom]
This feature substitutes glyphs with their matching smaller alternates and low position glyphs. The denominators are the same glyphs that are used to create fractions, their vertical position remains within the base line. These glyphs are reduced in size and designed slightly heavier to keep them consistent with the rest of the font.
Habcdefghijklmn
Hopqrstuvwxyz()[].,
Habcdefghijklmn
Hopqrstuvwxyz()[].,
Superscript/Superiors
Superscript / Superiors [sups]
This feature substitutes glyphs with their matching smaller alternates which are set slightly above the height of the capital letters. These glyphs are reduced in size and designed slightly heavier to keep them consistent with the rest of the font.
Habcdefghijklmn
Hopqrstuvwxyz()[].,
Habcdefghijklmn
Hopqrstuvwxyz()[].,
Subscript/Inferiors
Subscript / Inferiors [subs]
This feature substitutes glyphs with their matching smaller alternates which are set slightly below the baseline. These glyphs are reduced in size and designed slightly heavier to keep them consistent with the rest of the font.
Habcdefghijklmno
Hpqrstuvwxyz()[].,
Habcdefghijklmno
Hpqrstuvwxyz()[].,
Discretionary Ligatures
Discretionary Ligatures [dlig]
This feature activates discretionary ligatures which are specific to the typeface. It applies all other designed ligatures that are not classified as standard ligatures.
Classic Alternate letters and symbols
Stylistics Set [ss01]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
JQUefgj&@
ĴIJÚÙÛÜŨŪŬŮŰŲ
èéêëēĕėęěĝğġģĵij
JQUefgj&@
ĴIJÚÙÛÜŨŪŬŮŰŲ
èéêëēĕėęěĝğġģĵij
Geometric alternate letters and symbols
Stylistics Set [ss02]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
GKRShmnru¿?π∫ƒ$
ĜĞĠĢĶŔŖŘŠŚŜŞȘ
ĥħñńņňʼnŋŕŗř
ùúûüũūŭůűų
GKRShmnru¿?π∫ƒ$
ĜĞĠĢĶŔŖŘŠŚŜŞȘ
ĥħñńņňʼnŋŕŗř
ùúûüũūŭůűų
Alternate a
Stylistics Set [ss07]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).m
a
àáâãäāăåǻą
a
àáâãäāăåǻą
Alternate e
Stylistics Set [ss08]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
e
èéêëēĕėęě
e
èéêëēĕėęě
Alternate f g j t J
Stylistics Set [ss09]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
fgjtJ
ĝğġģijĵťŧțIJĴ
fgjtJ
ĝğġģijĵťŧțIJĴ
Alternate h m n r u
Stylistics Set [ss10]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
hmnru
ĥħñńņňʼnŋŕŗř
ùúûüũūŭůűų
hmnru
ĥħñńņňʼnŋŕŗř
ùúûüũūŭůűų
Alternate r
Stylistics Set [ss11]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
r ŕŗř
r ŕŗř
Alternate G
Stylistics Set [ss12]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
G ĜĞĠĢ
G ĜĞĠĢ
Alternate K
Stylistics Set [ss13]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
K Ķ
K Ķ
Alternate Q
Stylistics Set [ss14]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
Q
Q
Alternate R
Stylistics Set [ss15]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
R ŔŖŘ
R ŔŖŘ
Alternate S
Stylistics Set [ss16]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
S ŠŚŜŞȘ
S ŠŚŜŞȘ
Alternate U
Stylistics Set [ss17]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
U
ÚÙÛÜŨŪŬŮŰŲ
U
ÚÙÛÜŨŪŬŮŰŲ
Alternate symbols and figures
Stylistics Set [ss18]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
¿?ßπ∫ƒ$
012345689
¿?ßπ∫ƒ$
012345689
Alternate registered
Stylistics Set [ss19]
This feature replaces glyph(s) with stylistic alternate(s).
®
®
Lowercase math symbols
Stylistic Set 6 [ss06]
This feature activates alternate lowercase positioning of mathematical symbols.
up+down
+±×÷−=≈≠¬∞
up+down
+±×÷−=≈≠¬∞
Multiply sign
Stylistic Set 20 [ss20]
This feature substitutes the letter “x” into the multiplication sign.