Kanon Foundry Revives 1973 Typeface as Variable Font Clippy

Kanon Foundry, co-founded by Tor Weibull and Alexander Örn in 2019, has released Clippy, a reinterpretation of Ad Werner's 1973 typeface Paperclip Contour. Originally designed for print and never commercially available in variations, Paperclip Contour caught Weibull's attention on the record sleeve for The Drifters' 'Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies'. Weibull was drawn to its modular expression but found limitations in its contour style and lack of uppercase letters. He set out to reinvent it, filling in the letters and developing uppercase forms. Clippy is optimized for digital use, featuring fewer diagonals, improved curves, and optical adjustments. The variable font technology allows it to shift between Retalic, Roman, and Italic across fifteen styles, covering a range of weights. Weibull drew inspiration from modular lettering, including the work of Herbert Bayer, and noted similarities to E13B-like mid-weights and CNC engraving. The design process involved redesigning certain glyphs, such as the lowercase 'j', to facilitate the 'rocking' movement between styles. Kanon Foundry also produced physical roly-poly toys based on the lowercase 'a'. The typeface is described as having a retro-futuristic vibe, with distinctive p's and symbols reminiscent of alien hieroglyphics. Clippy is available through Kanon Foundry's website.