Typography is beautiful not only because of the painstaking work that goes into crafting every individual glyph, but also for how it functions as a mirror to reflect the world around us.
Pepe reflects what my small section of the world looks like—the buildings surrounding me, traditional printing techniques that evolved into the keyboard keys that control everything, and a vibrant, yet underrated, lineage of Cuban art and design.
This bilingual typeface aims to weave into the equator of my world while also echoing the deeply personal stories of immigration recounted by my family and celebrating that experience shared by so many.
Pepe is dedicated to my Abuelo, José “Pepe” Martínez, who I lost in 2020. Love and miss you deep, Pepe.