Real Beef Typeface & Specimen

Real Beef is an experimental display typeface inspired by Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. Meatpacking production, commercial and political signage, and the Chicago-style hot dog influenced the creation of these meaty letterforms. From the complex origins of the Union Stock Yards to the contemporary hold of Vienna Beef Inc., labor and production have played a significant role in the hot dog’s journey to becoming a staple commodity in the city. This mystery meat typeface aims to blur the line between suspicion, banality, and admiration.

This work was shown in the Design Museum of Chicago's 2025 exhibition Letters Beyond Form: Chicago Types, curated by Amira Hegazy. Feel free to download and play with the Real Beef typeface. For personal, non-commercial use only.