{"id":46543,"date":"2025-08-11T12:54:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T09:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/?p=46543"},"modified":"2026-05-15T10:14:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T07:14:42","slug":"road-testing-how-the-typetype-font-was-tested-for-the-atom-ev-interface","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/blog\/road-testing-how-the-typetype-font-was-tested-for-the-atom-ev-interface\/","title":{"rendered":"On the Road: How a TypeType Font Was Tested for the Atom EV Interface"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Atom is Russia\u2019s first production electric vehicle, with its release expected very soon. This vehicle\u2019s unique interface is a true glimpse into the future, featuring augmented reality, a head-up display projected onto the windshield (AR HUD), and even a display directly in the steering wheel (SWP). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was for these specific interfaces\u2014the SWP and AR HUD, as well as for the mobile app\u2014that we created (or rather, customized) a font. The Atom team then conducted a study to ensure that text set in this font could be read flawlessly under real-world driving conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll take you through the customization process and the research behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atom Interphases: Customizing a Font for Atom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

TypeType was tasked with creating a text font for the electric vehicle\u2019s interface, app, website, and all other Atom platforms. Crucially, it had to complement the Atom display font already in use on the project. During the approval phase, we and the Atom team concluded that the best solution would be to customize our own TT Interphases Pro<\/a> font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00ab\u00a0Our dream is to create a unified style of communication with the user across all media\u2014from posters to the interfaces inside the electric car. The Atom font is a vibrant neo-grotesque that helps us stand out in a sea of informational noise. However, the UI team prefers more understated fonts that place a minimal cognitive load on the driver. At their request, we explored font pairings, and everyone liked TT Interphases Pro. We wanted to infuse it with the character of the Atom brand, and TypeType offered us an excellent solution by customizing their font.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oleg Vakhromeev, Creative Director at Atom<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab\u00a0We needed to add a branding component to the font. So, we decided to make some characters more interesting and decorative. At the same time, it was vital to preserve readability.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antonina Zhulkova, Design Lead at TypeType<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

To\u00a0ensure the character of\u00a0the customized font echoed the existing display font, we\u00a0selected distinctive letters and used them as\u00a0a\u00a0basis to\u00a0modify a\u00a0series of\u00a0characters in\u00a0TT\u00a0Interphases Pro<\/a>. These included the terminals of\u00a0G, J, R, Q, a, and\u00a0g, as\u00a0well as\u00a0the letters \u0423\u0443, Yy, \u041a\u043a, Kk, and \u0416\u0436. Some forms were completely redrawn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The numerals were also modified to be more striking and characterful. Specifically, this applied to the numbers 1, 3, 6, and 9 across all styles\u2014lining, old-style, tabular, circled, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00ab\u00a0There\u2019s an\u00a0interesting story with the numbers 6\u00a0and 9. In\u00a0the original TT\u00a0Interphases Pro<\/a>, they looked like a\u00a0circle with a\u00a0diagonal line. To\u00a0make these forms more display-like, we\u00a0needed to\u00a0add \u2019tails\u2019 to\u00a0them. But this shape isn\u2019t ideal for readability because it\u2019s more ambiguous\u2014you could confuse these numbers with an\u00a08, a\u00a03, or\u00a0a\u00a00. So, we\u00a0created two sets for different tasks: one more readable, the other more accentuated.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antonina Zhulkova, Design Lead at TypeType<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For the interfaces, we created a separate font file containing only tabular figures, which are used specifically when number distinguishability is critical at high reading speeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We also drew symbols for several currencies: the som, somoni, tugrik, and dirham in all their respective styles. The dirham was particularly interesting to work on, as we had never designed this symbol before. Currently the national currency of the UAE and Morocco, and a fractional monetary unit in Jordan, Libya, and Qatar, it doesn\u2019t have a single dedicated symbol like the ruble or dollar sign. It is typically typed using three separate characters: two from the Arabic script and a dot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this font, however, we created a single glyph for the dirham to make it easy to type. We even conducted a small study to understand exactly how it should look in this font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally, we made technical refinements to the font, adjusting the baseline and leading so that when switching fonts in the interface, the layout would not break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resulting font was named Atom Interphases. It fully met the company\u2019s needs, a fact confirmed by Atom\u2019s research, which we\u2019ll discuss next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Atom Interface Font Study<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After we delivered the finished Atom Interphases, the Atom team decided to test the font by recreating driving conditions. It was crucial to understand how quickly and easily notifications could be read, as this directly impacts driving safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00ab\u00a0We were verifying if the font was suitable for our specific interfaces: the SWP, which is a tablet on the steering wheel, and the HUD, the projection on the windshield. We needed to test the readability and recognizability of characters with these specific interfaces in mind and find out how the font would perform while a person is driving.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yaroslava Medvedeva, Lead User Experience Researcher at Atom<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Preparation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The structure of the study itself was quite simple. It began with a briefing between the Atom and TypeType teams. The specialists discussed potential issues that could arise under the given conditions, such as how specific letters are perceived and whether they might be confused. For example, would a single-story \u2019a\u2019 be mistaken for an \u2019o\u2019? If so, would that pose any risk? How are letters and symbols recognized in general?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atom\u2019s designers also paid close attention to number recognition. A great deal depends on this\u2014for instance, whether a person correctly understands their driving speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab\u00a0Almost no one conducts UX studies like this. We found articles about font size, contrast, and the perception of texts in different fonts, but none of them were what we needed. We had to test all this directly with our interfaces. We identified two key metrics to focus on: legibility and readability. That is, the recognizability of specific characters and the readability of the entire text. We looked at the font\u2019s influence on how a word is perceived as a whole and how many words a person can process in a single quick glance. This context is critical for us. While driving, conditions are constantly changing. For example, when someone is driving on a highway at 150 km\/h (93 mph), there\u2019s very little time to look at a screen. So, it was essential to test readability specifically in the context of short interactions.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yaroslava Medvedeva, Lead User Experience Researcher at Atom<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To test the legibility of individual characters and the readability of phrases, the designers requested the font sizes approved for use in the interface designs. They then created cards with characters printed in the smallest of these sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u00ab\u00a0We decided that in the first stage, we wouldn\u2019t test the font within our interfaces, because then it would be unclear what influenced perception and reading efficiency\u2014the font or the interface itself. So, we used a dark background and a light-colored font for high contrast and created cards, each displaying six characters. The letters were arranged in a random order so that context wouldn\u2019t aid in their recognition.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yaroslava Medvedeva, Lead User Experience Researcher at Atom<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Special attention was given to similar-looking characters that were flagged during the briefing (\u2019a\u2019 \/ \u2019o\u2019, \u2018m\u2019 \/ \u2018n\u2019 etc.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More cards were created with these characters than with others. After a pilot test, the number of characters per card was reduced to four to make them easier to remember and list. This allowed respondents to \n1d94\ngrasp all the symbols at a glance and name them, ensuring that memory recall didn\u2019t affect the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To test readability, cards were made with notification texts already used in the head-up display (HUD). The text was also printed on a dark background with a light-colored font in the size approved for notifications. A few experimental cards were also created with increased and decreased letter-spacing to see if it would affect readability. The same process was repeated for the steering wheel panel (SWP), with the text size adjusted for that specific interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Research Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A qualitative method was chosen for the study. Respondents were selected with varying levels of eyesight, including mild nearsightedness or astigmatism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a full-scale rig for UX and cognitive ergonomics research, the context of a drive was recreated. The experiment lasted 60 minutes. During this time, participants were shown the prepared cards alternately on the HUD and SWP screens. Respondents had to name all the symbols and phrases they saw. They were only given two seconds to view each card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On command, respondents would look at the screen on the steering wheel and then shift their gaze to the windshield. This was done to see if refocusing their gaze affected the readability and legibility of the characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00ab\u00a0We had a protocol sheet with two columns: one listed the symbols and texts from the original cards, and the other had fields to be filled in with what the person said. This allowed us to compare and see if there were any errors. It\u2019s important to conduct these readability tests with native speakers to eliminate any errors that might stem from a participant simply misunderstanding a word.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yaroslava Medvedeva, Lead User Experience Researcher at Atom<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For the notifications (the phrases), it was agreed that if a respondent couldn\u2019t read the phrase in one go, the card would be shown again. The protocol tracked how many times each participant needed to see a card to repeat what they had read. This helped determine what volume of text a person could absorb in a single brief glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00ab\u00a0We went through the entire scenario with the respondents this way and then analyzed the errors. It turned out that the number of errors was minimal. Based on this, we concluded that the font is viable; that is, it\u2019s safe to use in the interface for driving.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yaroslava Medvedeva, Lead User Experience Researcher at Atom<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Conclusions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By the end of the experiment, all respondents had successfully completed the task. The font\u2019s readability was high, and participants correctly read all notifications. There were also no issues with letter and number legibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We at TypeType hadn\u2019t conducted studies like this before, but thanks to Atom\u2019s experience, we are already integrating a similar approach into our own research on font readability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project Team<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Atom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Valentin Krotov \u2014 Design System Manager
Alexey Dmitriev \u2014 HUD Design Lead
Yara Medvedeva \u2014 Lead Researcher
Inga Blagodatskaya \u2014 Lead Researcher
Sveta Kholodnova \u2014 Researcher
Oleg Vakhromeev \u2014 Creative Director
Alexander Pavlovich \u2014 Director of Design and User Experience<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TypeType<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Antonina Zhulkova \u2014 Design Lead
Anastasia Pogorelova \u2014 Senior Font Designer
Marina Khodak \u2014 Design Lead
Yuri Nakonechny \u2014 Head of the Technical Department
Stanislav Tikhonov \u2014 Font Engineer
Sergey Kuzmin \u2014 Head of the Project Office
Katerina Fedina \u2014 Client Manager<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Atom is\u00a0Russia\u2019s first production electric vehicle, with its release expected very soon. This vehicle\u2019s unique interface is\u00a0a\u00a0true glimpse into the future, featuring augmented reality, a\u00a0head-up display projected onto the windshield (AR\u00a0HUD), and even a\u00a0display directly in\u00a0the steering wheel (SWP). It\u00a0was for these specific interfaces\u2014the SWP and AR\u00a0HUD, as\u00a0well as\u00a0for the mobile app\u2014that we\u00a0created (or\u00a0rather, customized) a\u00a0font.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1590,"featured_media":46544,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[187,185],"class_list":["post-46543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-font-custom","tag-corporate-fonts"],"acf":{"show_sidebar":true},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1590"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46543"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50737,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46543\/revisions\/50737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/typetype.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}