ENS Éditions (Éditions de l’École normale supérieure, Lyon) publishes a large number of scientific works each year through numerous collections created over the years.
In 2021, Bureau 205 developed a system based on invariants (formats, papers, binding, typographic choices, stacking blocks and reading levels) and a system of grids and coloured ranges allowing each collection to be distinguished.
The typographic principles are based on customised versions of the typefaces Zénith by Matthieu Cortat and Maax by Damien Gautier, both distributed by 205TF. Maax is used with its alternate “Modern” stylistic set switched on, featuring numerous Futura-like letterforms, such as a single storey a, and pointy apexes for A and M.
Beyond the comfort of reading, the choice of these typefaces allowed Bureau 205 to envisage a long term work with the type designers to increase, according to the needs and specificities of the existing and future collections, the character sets.
