Ensba is a bespoke typeface developed for the new visual identity of the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts de Lyon, in collaboration with Radim Peško and Fabrice Grelat Mabime. Conceived as a structural element rather than a mere typographic tool, it plays a central role in articulating the school’s voice across media.
At the core of the project lies a monospaced system. The fixed width establishes a distinctive rhythm, introducing a subtle sense of temporality—as if each character occupied an equal unit of time. This regular pacing creates both tension and coherence, lending the layouts an immediate graphic presence. The monospace structure also carries an architectural dimension: it organizes the page with clarity and intention, shaping space as much as it shapes text.
While the overall letterforms draw from the legacy of historical humanist sans serifs, Ensba deliberately departs from orthodoxy in selected glyphs. Certain characters become expressive markers of identity—most notably the “i” and the “l.” The “i” unfolds as a tripartite sign: “I” as Identity, “I” as self, “I” as Eye. Its three-part construction symbolizes the three voices within the school—the administration, the teachers, and the students—coexisting within a shared framework.
Alongside the monospaced styles, a proportional companion was designed for running text, expanding the system’s versatility and addressing the institution’s diverse editorial and communication needs. Ensba thus balances rigor and play, system and expression—reflecting the pedagogical and experimental spirit of the school itself.