British Standard Type – Independent Type Foundry

BRITISH STANDARD TYPE was commissioned by YINKA ILORI MBE, the renowned British-Nigerian artist and designer, to create Yinka Sans, a bespoke two-cut display typeface celebrating his dual heritage and creative ethos. Yinka Sans Ultra and Yinka Sans Shadow encapsulate Ilori’s vibrant visual language, balancing inclusivity, joy, and a bold aesthetic with geometric play.

Yinka Sans was designed with creative expression in mind, featuring stylistic alternates and intricate detailing to enhance functionality. These features allow it to adapt seamlessly to Ilori’s multi-faceted practice, enabling users to explore tone, hierarchy, and emphasis. Yinka Sans invites experimentation while staying true to Ilori’s distinctive aesthetic vision.

BRITISH STANDARD TYPE developed Yinka Sans in collaboration with Ilori and his team, drawing on architectural motifs, Nigerian folk vernacular, contemporary culture, and rhythmic musical patterns to create a dynamic, personal, and joyful typographic system. Its construction balances rounded and angular forms, embodying duality and connection, making it both a bold display tool and a playful, expressive element across diverse mediums.

Yinka Sans is a core element of YINKA ILORI’s visual identity, supporting his installations, exhibitions, and communications. Its dynamic dual styles—Yinka Sans Ultra and Yinka Sans Shadow—provide a versatile toolkit for storytelling, amplifying Ilori’s message of joy, inclusivity, and cultural celebration. The typeface exemplifies how custom typography can serve as a powerful tool for creative expression, enabling artists, institutions, and brands to convey their stories with authenticity and impact.

Typeface: Yinka Sans Ultra & Yinka Sans Shadow
Commissioner: Yinka Ilori MBE
2 Styles: Ultra & Shadow
Coverage: Latin-A Encoded
Classification: Geometric Sans Serif
URL: yinkailori.com