Chapman is the result of spending too many hours staring at the often all-capital engraver typefaces from long-gone foundries. The wide serifs, high contrast, and various widths seem to have so much character but also remain so neutral.

From these references, Chapman began to emerge. It seemed natural that the lowercase would be based on a Scotch Roman model, much like the original all-capital faces. Chapman does not pull directly from any one source but from the genres themselves.

It was, from the beginning, the goal to create a typeface that would be relatively neutral but not boring; an adaptable solution that works anywhere and, depending on the chosen width, can be squeezed or stretched to fit anywhere. The idiosyncrasies of the original designs are tamed in some places and turned up in others. The result is something familiar but unique and contemporary.