Kaana Typeface by Mota Italic

Straight is overrated. Kaana is a display typeface for Devanagari and Latin built from straight lines, sharp curves, and triangular cuts. The shapes turn, repeat throughout the design, creating a bold and playful visual language.

Designed by: Kimya Gandhi
Current Version: 0.1
Current № of Styles: 1
Planned № of Styles: 6 weights + Italics
Scripts: Devanagari, Latin
№ of Characters: 399 (more to come)
Current License Price: €17

Devanagari First

Kaana began with Devanagari. The first sketches explored how straight lines, sharp corners, and triangular forms could reshape familiar letterforms. As the character set expanded, the same visual logic was carried into the Latin, creating a companion design that shares the same rhythm and personality. The Latin was expanded in collaboartion with Pranavi Chopra and Rob Keller.

Zigzags Ahead

Not every aa-matra has to be straight. Kaana includes alternate forms that can be activated through OpenType features, adding a zigzag pattern wherever you think a word could use one. Activate the stylistic sets and let the zigzags do the rest. :)

Kites, Crocodiles & Pineapples🪁🐊🍍

Somewhere along the way, the zigzags turned into other things. The result is a growing collection of icons and ornaments that includes tulips, chai cups, strawberries and a few other surprises. Like the typeface itself, the collection is still growing.

So Far, So Good

The release includes a display style, alternate aa-matras, ornaments, and a growing collection of icons. Future updates will expand the family with additional weights and language support and of course a growing collection of graphic oddities.

Your Help!

Since these fonts are still in progress, we can easily make modifications and improvements based on your opinions. If you have any thoughts, suggestions, criticisms, etc. for Kaana, please let us know! The form is quick and anonymous (unless you share your name/contact).
We really appreciate your help!!!