Stuurman

Stuurman is a display monospaced stencil typeface designed by Ramiro Espinoza and inspired by the vintage signage of the former GM Bedford–Vauxhall dealership located at Spoorstraat 6 in Gouda, the Netherlands. The iconic building, also known as Garage Zevenhoven, was designed in 1935 by Dutch architect Dirk Stuurman. Its original lettering combines monospaced construction, stencil-like interruptions, and a strong geometric structure typical of industrial and technical signage of the period.
Espinoza studied the proportions and construction logic of the original sign and translated these features into a contemporary digital typeface. Particular attention was given to modular rhythm and equal character widths, resulting in a monospaced system with a precise and mechanical appearance. Each glyph was carefully designed to function equally well in both horizontal and vertical compositions, extending the typeface’s versatility across different graphic applications.
With its technical character and architectural presence, Stuurman is well suited for museum posters and brochures, signage, editorial design, packaging, websites, music festival graphics, and visual identities that benefit from a clear industrial typographic voice. Rooted in Dutch commercial lettering of the 1930s, the typeface connects historical signage with contemporary design practice.