Lexik is the German word for lexis. In linguistics, the term designates the complete set of all possible words in a language. Or it can also refer to the totality of all words in a language that an individual speaker knows or uses. Looking at a typeface, it’s the shapes that determine the vocabulary. They make up the character, the voice with which the typeface speaks.
The work on Lexik initially started for the redesign of the magazine ‘ERNST’ by Thomas Hirter. With the change from black and white to color printing, the demand for a rough typeface with a strong presence came up. For this purpose, a series of humanist antiqua typefaces were examined and following studies with calligraphic strokes were made. The intention behind Lexik was to create a highly readable body text typeface in a contemporary look with a pointy touch for headline use.
In the case of Lexik the main trait of the typeface is its rough shapes. While the serifs are pointed and the endings are cut in a radical and minimalistic manner, the round letters have an uncommon kink at the transition of a stroke. These characteristics stand back when using the font for body text. The open characters allow a comfortable flow of reading and the precisely cut shapes give the typeface a strong visual appearance suitable for good reproduction on various papers and media. It’s through this juxtaposition of harmonious curves, along with sharp straight lines, with a strong presence even in larger sizes, that Lexik provides an up-to-date interpretation of a humanist antiqua. This makes a broad use of the font interesting. What started by Thomas Hirter for the redesign of the magazine was later in the process refined in collaboration with Binnenland.

Design Thomas Hirter (www.thomashirter.ch)
in collaboration with Binnenland, 2021
Version 1.009 Dec 2021