Cina Sans
Cina Sans is the result of over thirty years of typographic exploration, shaped by a balance of critique and admiration for the Neo-Grotesque genre. While it doesn’t adhere strictly to historical models, its foundation is informed by a long engagement with Helvetica—revisited through reinterpretations in 2002, 2009, and 2019, and discussed in publications like Emigre.
The origins of Cina Sans trace back to 2023 when a custom type inquiry sparked the idea of creating the “ideal sans.” This vision was refined through extensive testing, thoughtful application, and critical feedback, leading to multiple iterations and adjustments across its nine weights. Collaboration with a Google typeface developer ensured technical precision, making the typeface adaptable across both print and digital environments.
With 1,460 characters per weight and a range of stylistic sets that dramatically shift its tone (there are many ways to use this font), Cina Sans is designed for both familiarity and flexibility—offering designers a tool that is at once classic, functional, and full of potential.
Michael Cina
Michael Cina’s work exists at the intersection of design, typography, branding, strategy, and art. This uncommon mix allows him to see differently and direct ideas with purpose. Decades of moving fluidly between disciplines have shaped an approach that blends instinct with strategy, intuition with clarity, and expression with systems thinking.
An internationally recognized Creative Director and Artist, Michael leads the multi-disciplinary studio Cina Associates. His work spans global brands including Disney, Apple, American Express, ESPN, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft. Across his career, he has synthesized typography, branding, illustration, motion, web, music, photography, and type design into cohesive systems that perform across platforms and cultures. His work has been widely published, recognized with Emmy and Grammy honors, and he is a frequent speaker at global design conferences, sharing a point of view rooted in authorship, clarity, and long-term brand thinking.
