The typeface was designed at ParaType (ParaGraph) in 1993 by Tagir Safayev. Based on Placard typeface (Hermes Grotesk) of the Lange type foundry (St.-Petersburg), an adaptation of Hermes Grotesk, of the Woellmer type foundry (Berlin, middle of the 19th century). This sans serif with its old-fashion stability looks well in advertising and display typography.

North is an elegant Light Condensed that provides some interesting surprises to conventional condensed fonts. Ideal for fashion, cosmetics, editorials and premium packaging design.

Inspired by a handwritten Cyrillic placard seen in a book about the Soviet Union, Statue of Liberty's Underwear was envisioned as having been written with a very thick pen with a flat tip held horizontally. Additionally, the letterforms were sculpted to resemble lettering common in early 20th-century Russian constructivism pieces. A Cyrillic alphabet, or "azbuka", set was included in the font.