Onda

Onda is a typeface shaped by the frequencies of spoken letters.

Inspired by the Chalet 1980 typeface, its design reflects the
vibrational nature of sound waves.

The design process draws from the concept of the "speech banana" - a visual representation of the frequency and intensity range where human speech sounds occur. By mapping the average frequencies of each letter onto this scale, Onda reflects the physical nature of sound and the mechanics of speech: letters with lower frequencies (0-1000 Hz) feature a triangular cut disrupting their vertical stems, as if compressed by an invisible wave. Higher-frequency letters (above 1000 Hz) are also affected horizontally, further amplifying the rhythm of the distortion.

Onda is then distributed as if it was an album: the font file is contained within a custom-designed CD, while the type specimen takes the form of the CD booklet itself.

The final result is a dynamic, pulsating texture when set in text, where sound transforms into form, and typography echoes the movement of waves.