Skelettype

Skelettype is a neologism used in design and typography to describe typefaces whose construction emphasizes the underlying skeletal framework of each letter—the arrangement of basic strokes, joints, and enclosures that define form.

The term has circulated in design criticism, typography blogs, and experimental font discourse since the late 2010s. It is not an officially recognized category in typography, but a conceptual lens designers use to analyze how letterforms are built and how visible their structural skeleton is in final shapes.

Typical discussions of skelettype focus on features such as visible construction lines or reduced internal counters, restrained stroke contrast, and a preference for geometric accuracy over ornamental details. Skelettype can apply to both serif and sans-serif styles and often intersects with minimalist or modular design approaches.

Practically, designers reference skelettype when evaluating branding fonts, editorial typography, or UI elements where legibility and scale reveal the font’s skeleton. It also appears in academic papers and design critiques as a theoretical model for understanding how typeface construction affects readability and tone.

Critics argue that focusing on a letter's skeleton may overlook context, culture, and usage, while proponents see it as a useful framework for exploring form and function.

Related concepts include typeface construction, font anatomy, skeleton in design, and typography theory.