The Masqualero™ typeface Family has charisma, unrelenting sophistication, and – like the legendary Miles Davis jazz composition of the same name – more than a little attitude. Davis once said, “Don’t play what’s there, play what’s not there.” Drawn by Jim Ford, a Monotype Studio designer, Masqualero isn’t influenced by historical models or trends. It’s a design that’s aggressively original and confidently distinctive.

With six weights, each with a complementary italic, and two distinctive display designs, the Masqualero family is equally at home at massive sizes and at a miniature scale in print and on screen. It’s commanding in headlines and easy on the eyes in long form text copy. Masqualero is also a typeface of extremes – Ford pushed the lightest and boldest weights to design limits. Masqualero Light is lissome and refined while the extra bold is powerful and charismatic. This is a family that can be used for publishing and packaging design, advertising, and in the most complicated of branding projects.

Jazz design metaphors abound in Masqualero. “The flair of Miles’ electric funk and rock sounds are there,” says Ford. “As are the cutting edge and the sparkly smooth finish. Serifs are like trumpet bells. The sweet lyricism, tone and clarity of Miles’ horn can be found everywhere. I incorporated the highest level of detail, quality and refinement that I could make – as if it was really for Miles. For several years, it was my magnum opus.”