RESET | Journal

Written by Reset Type Studio | 30-01-2026

MacroSans: case study

Collaborated with Pentagram on the design and development of a custom typeface for Macrofactor, a science-based health and fitness app.

“A new identity for MacroFactor that frames science as both exacting and human. Inspired Science is less a slogan than a tension: rigorous and empathetic, motivating and methodical. This idea crystallizes in the mission Empower Every Body, turning evidence into possibility—making strength, confidence, and insight accessible to all. And it expands into a vision: The whole MF World—a playful shorthand that signals both the scale of ambition and the community spirit at the heart of MacroFactor.

In the ecosystem of nutrition apps, most products trade on convenience or aspiration: they count calories, gamify habits, or stage lifestyle fantasies. These technologies often feel disposable to dedicated gym-goers and disciplined athletes—too lightweight to match their rigor. MacroFactor is built for people who want to get serious about their bodies—whether that means losing weight, gaining muscle, or simply building healthier habits. Developed by scientists, coaches, and engineers, the app turns adaptive algorithms into practical guidance, delivering precision that users can trust. Its proposition is simple and direct: knowledge creates clarity, and clarity creates progress. But clarity alone doesn’t make a brand. Numbers require narratives; data needs design”.

— Pentagram

Project: Custom Font

Client: Pentagram, NY

Year: 2025

THE TYPEFACE

We were invited to help develop a custom font they had already designed with a strong foundation. Working closely with Pentagram's team, we refined, expanded (literally), and engineered it into a adaptable, playful and professional type family. In their own words: “The design system is where precision and adaptability are brought to life. At its core is MacroSans, a custom variable typeface designed to embody the brand’s dual character: architectural in structure yet fluid in application. With its wide range of weights and widths, MacroSans adapts effortlessly across interfaces, editorial, and motion—an essential tool for a brand that thrives on flexibility”.

We expanded the original single-style font into a full Variable family with 2 axes and 28 styles. The character set was significantly extended with over 740 glyphs per weight, providing support for more than 160 Latin-based languages. The family also includes a broad range of functional glyphs, including diacritics, alternates, mathematical symbols, superiors and inferiors, arrows, and circled numbers.

STYLES & CHALLENGES

(falta texto real) Across all three styles, we expanded the character set with over 200 additional glyphs, enabling support for more than 160 Latin-based languages. We also included a wide range of functional glyphs: diacritics, alternates, mathematical symbols, superiors, inferiors, arrows, and circled numbers. Given the client's focus on global finance and innovation, we designed over 20 monetary and crypto currency symbols.

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