The font that tricks the system — by design
Small World Problems
A typographic experiment exploring how a single letter, scaled and repositioned, changes meaning. Made as a self-initiated study in visual impact (and a bit of humor).
The Insight
In the world of academic writing, length requirements can be a burden. Inspired by the Davidka Mortar, I realized that Hebrew writers needed their own solution for stretching essays without writing more words - or like the Davidka - making noise but not damage.
The Solution
Davidka is a modified version of the classic, open-source David Libre font. It is designed to be visually indistinguishable from the standard David font used in most Israeli academic institutions, but with a hidden feature: it is 5-10% wider.
By subtly adjusting the glyph width and side-bearings (the empty space around each letter), Davidka naturally expands the length of any document. It allows students to meet page-count requirements more easily while maintaining the professional, authoritative look of the standard font.