Kalakala (ka·la’·ka·la’)

Chinook for “bird”, the Kalakala was a beloved ferry boat in Seattle, Washington that operated from 1935–1967. The word’s repetition of letters ultimately inspired the font’s name—each letterform of the Kalakala typeface has an alternate with the intention that the variations may be used side by side. Contemporary yet rooted in typewriter script and reminiscent of handwriting idiosyncrasies, Kalakala is gestural and refreshing, sleek but uncomfortable. Circular letterforms are occasionally interrupted by sharp edges and asymmetry, and much like the Kalakala vessel, its streamlined modernity and odd, imprecise moments make each word an adventure.