My first studio in Bern 2013, photo Matías Aros

Early sketch of the typeface Cádiz, 2013

Start somewhere

Luzi Type celebrates its 10th anniversary:
A retrospective journey.

In 2013, fresh out of my visual communication studies, I was eager to find a job, preferably in an innovative graphic design studio. I ran around from Bern to Zurich with my portfolio in hand, but luck was not on my side.

During these challenges, I found myself with some free time, which led me to experiment with quirky sans-serif fonts. At the time, unconventional grotesque fonts were trendy, at least at my university. Starting type design doesn’t need much financial investment; all I required was time, a computer, a type editor, paper, and a scanner.

Weeks passed, and my portfolio efforts did not pay off. In a moment of self-reflection, I thought about opening my own design studio, even though I didn’t know how to get clients. It was a crucial decision that laid the foundation for Luzi Type; when no one called, I decided to take the initiative.

So, I registered the domain Luzi-Type.ch and launched my first website, showcasing my initial typefaces: Buenos Aires, Beirut and Cádiz.

When I released my first fonts, I hesitated to publish them, worried that they wouldn’t be perfect. I struggled to figure out when something was truly finished. However, over time, I learned the importance of sharing my work, testing it, and publishing it so I could step back and gain a more objective view to make necessary improvements.

After studying design, I followed the tradition of doing apprenticeships to explore different design approaches in a new context. My curiosity took me to South America, where I found a position in Santiago de Chile. Little did I know that this choice would shape my twenties. Later, I apprenticed at Dalton Maag, where I learned a lot about type design.

My girlfriend and I chose to live together in Montevideo, where I worked obsessively on my font catalogue, adding Messina Sans, Messina Serif and Messina Modern. Living in Uruguay allowed me to focus on my work since we didn’t know many people there, and Montevideo had a calm atmosphere. Despite that, the place sparked new ideas in me, especially for Recife (see essay The Inside).

In 2015, we moved to Valparaíso, where our daughter was born, bringing joy to our lives. Being a new dad helped me achieve a better work-life balance.

My view from the office in Valparíso

Valparaíso is a city known for its spirit of improvisation and self-initiative, which shows in its street typography (see notes entry Typographic Souvenirs №1). During this time, I worked diligently from my office, enjoying the beautiful view of the Pacific as I completed my typefaces Lynstone, Koper, and Recife.

In 2019, we moved again, this time to Bern, where my office is now in the charming old town.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve faced a challenging learning curve, experiencing both highs and lows, many moments of self-doubt, and plenty of fun as I tried to do my best. If I could advise my younger self, it would be: “You have to start somewhere.”

Nowadays, my published typefaces are more polished, receiving occasional minor technical updates. Yet, I still feel excited whenever I encounter a new letterform or finish a new typeface.

I want to express my gratitude to all my clients for their continuous support over the years, which made this journey possible!