UsMeCa 2026 Typeface
Developed by Nacione™ Branding
Developed by Nacione™ Branding
UsMeCa typography is a commemorative work made in honor of the World Cup in 2026, and follows a sequence of projects that are developed in years of competition by Nacione™.
For this project, legibility is not a requirement. It is an opportunity to be bold and explore ideas that reflect the spirit of the times—a chance to break free from the constraints often imposed by commercial projects and create something purely for the sake of experimentation, without concern for utility. It exists at the boundary between art and design.
The flags and athletes depicted in illustrations by Gabriel Diogo—invited for his distinctive style, which celebrates both the sport and the everyday reality of South American football—form textures that layer with the typography. Together, they create vibrant visual compositions that capture the emotion and speed of a game that constantly evolves yet never loses its allure.
We also bring aboard Naipe Foundry, guided by Álvaro Franca and Felipe Casaprima, to work on font production and working on the meticulous details that make up the final file—spacing, accentuation, and punctuation.
The concept behind the UsMeCa typeface was inspired by modern football: tactical, rigid, and structured in blocks, where players rarely stray from their assigned roles. We missed the unexpected moves, the dribbles, and the rebellious urge to defy the coach's instructions.
Working within a strictly constrained grid, we created a limited set of "plays." With few curves and a restricted visual vocabulary, we had to clearly distinguish letters from numbers, resulting in a bold display typeface. Right angles create colorful, modular compositions that challenge the very nature of writing.
The future of football is unsettling: standardized and structured. Yet it still leaves room for bold creativity.
The future of football is unsettling: standardized and structured. Yet, it still leaves room for bold creativity.
