Rapha Mondial

We were approached by Rapha Art Director Jack Saunders to lead the design direction of their new cycling lifestyle magazine Mondial. Mondial expands the idea of what road cycling is and what the sport can be. Featuring incisive longform writing and stunning photography, in Mondial you will find familiar cycling topics given a fresh new treatment.

The typography of Mondial magazine is a deliberate homage to cycling heritage and Rapha's brand identity. Inspired by vintage cycling literature, the magazine's typefaces were meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of nostalgia and sophistication. The all-caps 'MONDIAL' setting, influenced by the characters of La Gazetta Dello Sport's vintage typography, features unexpected sloping behaviours in select letterforms, setting the tone for the magazine's typographic narrative. The team commissioned type foundry Colophon to evolve the initial wordmark into a comprehensive display alphabet and ultimately a bold weight. Additionally, the introduction of a condensed weight in Issue No. 2 expanded the typeface's versatility, adding a new visual texture and enabling fresh editorial possibilities.