The Cardea family of typefaces is the outcome of David Cabianca’s 2003–04 MA Typeface Design experience at the University of Reading. With Cardea, Cabianca intended to mix classical and modern characteristics, and in the process he created a typeface that “sparkles” on the page, with high contrast, luster and crisp edges. The result is a type with a muscular or sculptural feel much like the work of artists Arne Quinze or Mark di Suvero.

Cardea was designed to function as a text face. It features three weights each with accompanying italics, small caps and a variety of ligatures.