The type industry is increasingly threatened by corporations striving to dominate volume or enterprise licensing of fonts for large-scale commercial applications.
As we join the group of Independent foundries at Type Network, we’re excited to play a part in the resistance against a monoculture in the type industry. We celebrate the diversity and individuality that only small independent foundries can offer. Through Type Network, we now have the backing we need as a one-person operation to handle large enterprise licenses and technical support of our fonts.
My top five favorite foundries are also single-person businesses. Here are a few reasons I respect what they do and can personally vouch for them.
Their focus is on quality.
When a designer’s reputation is directly tied to their work, maintaining exceptional standards is essential for their foundry’s survival.
It’s a passion, not a job.
For many type designers, what they do is more than just a job—it’s a passion. This passion drives them to experiment with new ideas and continuously refine their craft. Unlike larger companies where profit margins often dictate design decisions, these individuals are driven by a love for typography and a desire to contribute something meaningful to the design community. This passion is evident in the distinctiveness and originality of their typefaces.
They build meaningful relationships.
One-person foundries have the unique advantage of building personal, trustful client relationships. When clients work directly with a designer, there’s a level of transparency and communication that is hard to achieve in larger operations. This direct interaction allows for a better understanding of the client’s needs and more personalized service.
Here are my top five:
Typeji - TienMin Liao (New York, New York) Latin / Hanji / Kanji
I’ve known TienMin for a while now and highly recommend her work. TienMin’s typefaces are fresh, innovative, and very well made. She studied at Type@Cooper and has worked with many reputable clients including Pentagram, W+K, Netflix, Wolff Olins, Kontrapunkt, Buck, Prophet, Elmwood, and Siegel+Gale.
Revolver Type - Lukas Schneider (Frankfurt, Germany) Latin
Lukas and I have known each other since we studied together at Type and Media; however, his type design work precedes that with his early typefaces, which were published at several prestigious type foundries. His work has always inspired me because of the care and craftsmanship he puts into every design.
Ama Foundry - Lara Captain (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Arabic
Lara is an exceptionally talented Arabic typeface designer with whom I had the pleasure of meeting and building a life-long friendship while I lived in Amsterdam. We’ve had many late nights discussing the ins and outs of typeface design. Lara’s foundry is dedicated to and named after Lara’s mother, Amale, as a homage to continuity and forward-thinking Arab women.
Foster Type - Dave Foster (Sydney, Australia) Latin
I’ve known Dave, a fellow Aussie, for many years now. He also studied at Type and Media and completed his Master’s the year before me. Dave is not only a very talented typeface designer but also an amazing letterer. His previous client list is too long and impressive to mention here.
Flavia Zimbardi (Berlin, Germany) Latin
Flavia is an amazing typeface designer from Rio de Janeiro and currently lives in Berlin. I met Flavia when she studied at Type@Cooper in New York, and I was always impressed by the quality of her work. Flavia actively collaborates with fellow female designers and infuses Brazilian cultural references into her independent projects.
And here are are four more because I love them too:
Show Me Fonts - Bernd Volmer (Germany) Latin
I’ve been waiting for Bernd to launch his foundry for years, which he finally did in 2023. Bernd studied at Type and Media and has gained valuable experience in typeface design by working with several impressive foundries. Bernd’s interests are varied, including brewing beer, longboarding, and calligraphy. You can really see the impact these interests have on the beautiful work that he makes.
Reset Type - Fernando Díaz Morales (Montevideo, Uruguay) Latin
Although Fernando is still a young dude, he has been making typefaces longer than many of us. I met Fernando when he took a break from making type to study at Type@Cooper, and we’ve maintained contact since. btw he hates pineapple on his pizza—I bloody love it!
Hungarumlaut - Adam Katyi (Austria) Latin
Adams’s work always blow me away. He has the ability to break the rules in clever ways, resulting in unique and super interesting typefaces. Adam was born in Hungary and studied at Type and Media. He works with many impressive international branding clients and is a lovely human to know.
Coppers and Brasses - Étienne Aubert Bonn (Montréal) Latin
Another good friend and classmate from Type and Media, Étienne, works with clients of all sizes, local or abroad, so long as they have a typographic problem to solve. You will always receive the smoothest bezier curves from him, I can assure you. He also has an award list longer than my arm, and that’s long!
Please support these small Independent foundries next time you consider licensing a typeface. Your support will help foster innovation and diversity in our industry.
Troy x
