As the name DeBox suggests, the proportions and shapes in this font are a little boxy, meaning that the curves are not completely round and tend noticeably toward rectangles. The proportions are unobtrusive and based on familiar typefaces.
So it is “almost a normal sans serif” – but there are a few special features that distinguish this font from the usual well-known everyday fonts. DeBox offers some variations that are not very common.
First, in addition to the usual italics, there is the slanted version, which is inclined to the left against the reading direction. Like most modern fonts, DeBox does not have a “real” italic with the typical italic forms borrowed from handwriting – it is basically the slanted forms of the upright version (naturally balanced and corrected according to visual criteria).
Another feature is the selectable x-height of the lowercase letters. In DeBox, you can choose (while keeping the font size the same) from a very low x-height, which appears almost delicate, to a very high x-height, which appears solid and powerful.
As a variable font, DeBox offers the possibility to adjust all variations from one extreme to the other individually and continuously.
The range of font widths in DeBox includes widths from Extra Condensed to Extra Expanded.
The range of stroke weights extends from Hairline to Black.
The static fonts, on the other hand, only represent part of the diverse spectrum without the extremes.
A characteristic feature of DeBox are the triangular shapes in certain details, particularly noticeable and visible in the lowercase e and a, but also in the crossbars of f and t and in the feet of Q and R.
Striking characters in DeBox are the uppercase and lowercase X with their unusual upward and downward points, and the small u with its bowl-like shape without the usual stroke on the right. The conventional character forms for X and u are available as stylistic alternates.
The corners and points at the ends of the strokes are rounded almost imperceptibly. This takes away some of the overall impression of sobriety from DeBox.