Tlaoli, in Nahuatl (my native language), means “corn.” It is a typeface based on the morphology of this cereal grain known throughout the world, which is not only a core element of Mexican identity but, on a personal level, reminds me of my roots in its cultivation since I was born and has also been a part of my diet throughout my life; it is a way to pay homage to my ancestral culture as an Indigenous Mexican, while integrating my work as a designer.
MxT Tlaoli is a reverse-contrast typeface with asymmetrical proportions and fluid, rounded forms; it is far from being a standard reading or display typeface in its two versions, “Regular” and “Italic,” yet in body text it exhibits a uniform typographic texture with well-contrasted horizontal and vertical strokes, as well as a consistent rhythm in the body of each character—which, taken together, form functional words with a unique grace. The x-height, ascenders, and descenders have little vertical spacing between them, making the typeface appear slightly more stretched on a square grid, though this does not significantly affect the overall width of the words.