Scandinavian Functionalism × International Typographic Style

Warm a Swiss grid with Nordic colour and one simple, friendly symbol to keep order without coldness.

From the research on Scandinavian Functionalism

Mix them and make something Scandinavian Functionalism International Typographic Style

A sample layout drawn from the recipe: shapes from Scandinavian Functionalism, their arrangement from International Typographic Style, the finish from Scandinavian Functionalism. Not a real work, and not an image of either style.

What each style brings

Each part of the design comes from the style with the stronger say in it, and each style gives at least two.

Scandinavian Functionalism International Typographic Style

Type from International Typographic Style: Grotesque & neo-grotesque
Type as image
Colour from International Typographic Style: Limited spot colours
Flat fields
Form from Scandinavian Functionalism: Stylised figuration
Geometric primitives
Composition from International Typographic Style: Modular grid
Dynamic asymmetry
Surface from Scandinavian Functionalism: Flat

The type

Open fonts standing in for each style’s own type, which is often hand-drawn or commercial.

Display · International Typographic Style

Form

Inter Tight, standing in for Akzidenz-Grotesk

Text · Scandinavian Functionalism

Nordic functionalism (funkis) arrived in graphic form with Sigurd Lewerentz's posters and winged emblem for the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition. It adapted Bauhaus rationalism to a social-democratic ideal of beautiful everyday things for everyone. Its graphic language is modernism with warmth: clear sans-serif or humane serif type, generous space, friendly simplified symbols and colours taken from nature, applied to public services, consumer goods and national identities.

Jost; Scandinavian Functionalism used Futura and Berling Antikva

The colours

The ground and leading colours come from International Typographic Style, with a counter-accent from Scandinavian Functionalism. The ink reads on the ground at 4.5:1 or more.

Scandinavian Functionalism International Typographic Style

#f2f0e9 ground · 36%
#111111 ink · 14%
#e1251b accent · 18%
#e3b53a accent · 14%
#1f4e9c accent · 10%
#a63a2a accent · 8%

As CSS

:root {
  --ground: #f2f0e9;
  --ink: #111111;
  --accent-1: #e1251b;
  --accent-2: #e3b53a;
  --accent-3: #1f4e9c;
  --accent-4: #a63a2a;
  --font-display: "Inter Tight", sans-serif;
  --font-text: "Jost", sans-serif;
}

The two styles

A rust-red cat sleeps curled beside a leafy green plant in a yellow pot on a cream background. Large dark lettering reads “Quiet Days” at upper left, with a yellow circle above the plant.

1930–present · Northern Europe Scandinavian Functionalism Nordic functionalism (funkis) arrived in graphic form with Sigurd Lewerentz's posters and winged emblem for the 1930 Stockholm Exhibition. It adapted Bauhaus rationalism to a social-democratic ideal of beautiful everyday things for everyone. Its graphic language is modernism with warmth: clear sans-serif or humane serif type, generous space, friendly simplified symbols and colours taken from nature, applied to public services, consumer goods and national identities.

The words “Urban Systems” appear in large black and red lettering at the upper left of an off-white cover. Tall blue, black and grey rectangular blocks rise from the bottom, with fine vertical dividing lines and a red circle at the upper right.

1950–1975 · Central Europe International Typographic Style A post-war refinement of the New Typography in which the mathematical grid, objective photography and neo-grotesque sans-serifs were used to communicate with clarity and neutrality. Taught at the Basel and Zurich schools, it became the default language of international corporate and institutional communication.

More combinations

With Scandinavian Functionalism

All 18 combinations with Scandinavian Functionalism

With International Typographic Style

All 97 combinations with International Typographic Style

Every style combination