Design plays an important functional role in structuring and sharing ideas; it is a necessary component in creating economic value. Typeface design has not been inclusive of the minority languages of the world, including the aboriginal languages of Northern Canada. Inuktitut, one of Nunavut’s three official languages, is the most widely spoken aboriginal language across Canada. But since Canada’s Inuit population is not a
driving force in the national economy, a standardized typeface design has not reached their community.Upinnaq is a display typeface meant to serve the Inuit. Its chiseled serifs are a unique addition to the simple geometric shapes of the Cree syllabary. The typeface is aesthetically tuned to the state of graphic design, and serves to unite a group that is not widely considered integrated into Canadian society.Inuktitut was first printed in the 1800s, alongside other modern
serif typefaces of the day. On the page, the geometric quality of the Cree syllabary would stand in notable contrast to the Victorian typefaces of the 1800s, reinforcing the national divide. Typeface has a powerful role in the illustration of language. As Canada celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2017, Upinnaq will begin to symbolically bridge the divide between Canada’s communities. www.davidjklein.ca