It's a typeface that captures the personality of the charismatic, psychopathic, and very often murderous assassin from BBC America’s television series Killing Eve. An experimental type project in communicating a person’s identity within a typeface, which transformed into an intense and often conflicting character study between danger and glamour. Could a collection of letters look like they might stab you and enjoy it? Can they be an unfeeling psychopath, an obsessive lover and a contract killer, all at once?

This surgical juxtaposition has created a typeface with elegant curves, razor-sharp edges, plunging descenders, high-contrast strokes and a confident flair. Villanelle is a self-obsessed display typeface that you will fall in love with, or it will kill you. Or maybe even both.

KILLER FOR HIRE: Download free trial or buy from the Type Department.

Download free trial or buy from the Type Department.

Typeface designed by Joseph Dennis.
Photography by Mel Branson of Till Death.