The story of ITC Tyfa is a story of three artists spanning almost forty years: Josef Tyfa, who originally drew the design for metal typesetting (the metal fonts were released in 1959); the architect P. L. Nervi, whose work inspired the design; and Frantisek Storm, who digitized the typeface for ITC under Tyfa’s direction (first announced in U&lc in 1998).
Structurally, ITC Tyfa is a “modern” type. Its vertical axis, marked difference in stroke weights, and thin unbracketed serifs indicate a shared heritage with designs like Bodoni and Walbaum. But the sensuous curves and the variations of thick and thin strokes show exuberance far beyond most neoclassical moderns. The near-calligraphic italic is especially lively – almost quirky.
While Tyfa’s work reveals echoes of other Czech type designers (such as Oldrich Menhart), ITC Tyfa is a truly international design with a distinctive character all its own.