Category Archives: Announcements

Random Improvements

December 21, 2011 – 3:01 PM

Browsing random typefaces just got a lot more fun and easy thanks to our Randomizer tool on FontShop.com. We’ve just launched a revised version of our Random Font Generator. It’s part of our ongoing effort to evolve past old ideas and offer new ways of interacting with our website.

This new version is the fastest and simplest way to discover new fonts on FontShop.com.

In addition to a more comprehensive sample of the randomly selected typeface, from our collection of over 150,000, some of the new features are:

  • Simple bookmarking of new fonts as favorites as you browse via the star icon. You can sort the results out later once you’re dizzy with font overload!
  • The Purchase Options tab is only one click away from the sample tab. When you come across the typeface that makes you scream “I MUST HAVE THIS NOW!”, it’s easy to snag.
  • Intuitive navigation via on-screen clicking, arrow keys or swipe gestures. The support of mobile devices, like iPad, is one of our major focuses for the future.
We hope you like these new features. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
By Meghan Arnold | Also posted in Website Features | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Behind the FontFont Tiers

December 16, 2011 – 4:31 PM

FontShop International (FSI) announced a major restructuring of its award-winning FontFont® typeface library this week. The FontFont Library Tier system splits the collection into three distinct tiers designed to save customers valuable time in selecting typefaces. Read on to learn a little more about this new set up!

Finding Faces Faster: FontShop International introduces the FontFont Library Tier system

The FontFont® brand debuted in 1990, built around one simple premise: Erik Spiekermann and Neville Brody conceived of a library of innovative digital typefaces created by designers for designers. FontFont launched with a handful of types the founders commissioned from their colleagues and up and coming young talent. From those humble beginnings, the FontFont library has grown to include 750 families representing the work of more than 160 designers worldwide.

FontShop International carefully developed the FontFont library to meet the demands of type users with diverse needs. Hand picked twice yearly by the FontFont type board — helmed by Spiekermann, a self-proclaimed “typomaniac”—each typeface in the library has been chosen for aesthetic appeal, innovation, and craftsmanship. FontFonts are technically perfected and thoroughly road tested before release, ensuring that designers have the best possible experience when using these high-quality fonts in their typographic projects.

With 2,500 fonts and counting, FontFont has become one of the largest contemporary type libraries in the world. Having so many designs to choose from can be both a blessing and a curse; leisurely sifting through thousands of fonts online is pleasurable for any type lover, but it can be a daunting task at 3 a.m. when deadlines loom.

Enter the FontFont think tank: FSI’s dedicated team of type fanatics and technical gurus were determined to make font selection as easy as possible. After countless hours spent on research and in talking with type users, their mission was to minimize the
amount of time each customer had to spend on selecting fonts. To achieve this goal, they decided to split the FontFont library into three distinct tiers.

FontFont Premium Tier: The Most Popular FontFonts

FontFont’s Premium Tier includes today’s most popular FontFonts and will feature the latest releases going forward. This tier, the largest in the new system, showcases international favorites like Albert-Jan Pool’s FF DIN®, FF Scala® by Martin Majoor, FF Dax® from Hans Reichel, and Spiekermann’s FF Meta® and FF Unit®.

Premium Tier FontFonts anchor the library in three formats to address every need — OpenType, Offc, and Web.* By next summer, all fonts in the Premium Tier will feature Pro language support, including Cyrillic, Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic in some designs. Customers are not restricted to licensing full packages in this tier, but may choose single weights from these bestselling type families.

(*Offc and Web versions of some Premium Tier FontFonts are still in development and will be available soon.)

FontFont Collection Tier: Extraordinary Pricing and Hidden Gems

The FontFont Collection Tier is a selection of economically priced typographic treasures, including Xavier Dupré’s FF Reminga™, FF Mambo® by Val Fullard, and experimental designs like the FF FUSE Classics.

The Collection Tier is offered in full-family packages only—fonts are available in OpenType with Standard language support (with a few key exceptions). All packages in this tier are affordably priced at less than 100€/$, making it easier than ever for customers to build a quality type collection.

FontFont Free Tier: Giving Something Back

As a bonus to loyal customers, FontFont now offers a variety of free typefaces, including Paul Sych’s FF Dig, Dog, Hip™, FF Peecol™ from Steffen Sauerteig and Kai Vermehr (Eboy), and Timothy Donaldson’s FF FancyWriting™. Free Tier titles contain the complete family in a single package, and are available in OpenType with Standard language support.

It Just Gets Better: New Additions to the FontFont Family

FontFont is growing again with a stellar new text design and significant extensions to five favorite families. FF Ernestine, Swiss designer Nina Stössinger’s first typeface, is a wide wedge/slab serif family developed for text setting. Solid yet feminine, FF Ernestine includes roman and italic cuts in four weights. Los Angeles-based designer Hrant Papazian contributed a complementary Armenian character set, available in the Pro version.

Fred Smeijers has revised the design of FF Quadraat® and added a much-needed demi bold weight. Two companion families—FF Quadraat® Sans and Sans Condensed — have undergone design revisions, and have been expanded with thin, extra light, and demi bold weights. All three families now include Pro versions with Latin Extended and Cyrillic character sets. Ole Søndergaard’s FF Signa™ has been extended with extra light, extra black, and ultra weights, while Spiekermann’s FF Meta® Serif now offers Cyrillic and Greek language support.

By Meghan Arnold | Also posted in Website Features | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Registration Opens for TYPO San Francisco

December 1, 2011 – 12:12 PM

Registration opened today for TYPO San Francisco Connect at typotalks.com/sanfrancisco. The conference, presented by FontShop, will take place at the Novellus Theater at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), April 5-6, 2012.Eager to experience two days of design, culture, society – with a little bit of kerning? A limited supply of early bird tickets are available at great discounted rates through December 31. Professional early bird tickets are available for $400 and student early bird tickets are $200. Students must provide valid proof of enrollment.

TYPO San Francisco will feature a diverse array of creative and inspiring speakers across multiple industries. Erik Spiekermann and Kali Nikitas will facilitate in the main hall. The event will also feature typographic workshops and screenings at YBCA.

Regularly priced tickets ($500) will be available January 1 through February 29, with late registration ($600) beginning March 1 up until the conference.

About TYPO Conferences

TYPO Conferences are a huge success in Europe. TYPO Berlin has become Europe’s premier annual three-day design conference featuring a veritable who’s-who from the elite of design with cultural commentary and social relevance presenting a design barometer of the rapidly changing creative arena of the last 17 years, and as you might expect, more than a little key knowledge of the world of typography. TYPO London premiered to rave reviews in October 2011.

About TYPO San Francisco Connect

San Francisco is a key location for design. Technology and software development have seamlessly entered the design process with creativity and innovation underpinning the way people are educated, conduct business and think about society. We all connect with the world every day. Good design makes this fun and easy, bad design ruins the experience. Being over connected can be fulfilling or overwhelming. Disconnecting can be a relief or isolating. And all of this is changing constantly with technology. TYPO San Francisco Connect brings together incredible speakers from both European and American design communities to share their work and insights on what it means to connect.

Conference sponsors include FontShop International and Communication Arts. More information on sponsorship is available at typotalks.com/sanfrancisco.

By Meghan Arnold | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

FontShop Friday Five: Inspire

November 11, 2011 – 4:47 PM

We know you’re busy and the Internet is a crowded place, so we’ll try to give you a little reminder on Fridays of what’s going on out there. Below please find five recent FontShop-related threads that you may have missed.

Inspiring April

TYPO Connect arrives in San Francisco this April. Register beginning December 1 for a conference that’s sure to inspire.

Inspiring Archives

Theresa’s Tips guides you through the archives on FontShop this week.

Inspiring Branding

David Sudweeks explains how to use typography across platforms to keep your brand consistent.

Inspiring Tunes

The latest installment of My Type of Musicis up on the Font Feed.

Inspiring Winners

Yves Peters takes us behind the ISTD International Typographic Awards 2011. Speaking of award winners, don’t forget you can save 10% off Letter.2 award winners on FontShop.com with promo code LETTER211 through November 30, 2011.

Friday Five Fonts: FF Strada by FontFont and Alwyn New Rounded by Moretype

By Meghan Arnold | Also posted in Font Support, FontShop Products | Tagged , | Comments (0)

TYPO Comes to San Francisco in April 2012

November 10, 2011 – 11:57 AM

We previously mentioned that TYPO, one of Europe’s most successful design conferences, will add an annual event in San Francisco. Well now we have dates!

TYPO San Francisco will take place at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), April 5-6, 2012 centering around the theme Connect.

We connect with the world every day. Good design makes this fun and easy, bad design ruins the experience. Being over connected can be fulfilling or overwhelming. Disconnecting can be a relief or isolating. And all of this is changing constantly with technology. TYPO San Francisco Connect brings together incredible speakers from both European and American design communities to share their work and insights on what it means to connect.

“Within 16 years we’ve developed TYPO to a path-breaking voice in the field of communication and design. The positive reception of TYPO London in October 2011 was the proof, that the international graphic design community wants that summit at additional design strongholds,” said Jürgen Siebert, Chairman, FontShop Germany. “We are thrilled to come to San Francisco.”

The two-day conference will feature a diverse array of creative and inspiring speakers across multiple industries in the Novellus Theater at YBCA. Erik Spiekermann and Kali Nikitas will facilitate in the main hall. The event will also feature typographic workshops and screenings at YBCA.

Registration will open December 1, 2011. An early bird phase with discounted tickets will run through December 31. Regularly priced tickets will be available January 1 through February 28, with late registration beginning March 1 up until the conference.

In the spirit of TYPO Berlin, a limited number of student tickets will also be available at a reduced rate.

More information, including registration and sponsorship information, is forthcoming at www.typotalks.com/sanfrancisco or follow us on Twitter @TYPOSF.

By Meghan Arnold | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

Call for Input: Best of 2011

November 3, 2011 – 11:48 AM


It’s definitely difficult to believe that it’s already November. We’re hard at work compiling our “Best of” lists before the holiday season distracts us. While we definitely have opinions amongst our staff on what typefaces and enhancements defined the year, we’d like to hear yours as well.

Need some inspiration? Take a look back at some of our previous years’ posts. Next, flip through our New Fonts lists to see what’s come out this year. Then leave your picks in the comment section below.

Not sure if you’ll have motivation to volunteer picks? Let’s sweeten the pot a little bit. We’ll pick 10 lucky commenters to win a copy of the FontBook for iPad. Just leave your comment by November 30!

By Meghan Arnold | Tagged , , | Comments (14)

FontShop SF is Hiring

November 1, 2011 – 5:30 PM

Looking for a great job opportunity in San Francisco? If you’re a creative, talented person with the skills to fulfill one the positions below, we want to meet you. We’re currently looking for:

By Meghan Arnold | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

Reflections on TYPO London

October 28, 2011 – 2:49 PM

Earlier this week we made the exciting announcement that TYPO, Europe’s most successful design conference, will be coming to San Francisco. With the week winding down, two of our SF staffers reflect on the TYPO London conference held last weekend.

Says First Officer, Michael Pieracci:

TYPO London felt just like past TYPO Berlin conferences. The speakers had great stories to tell, compelling experiences and ideas, and their presentations were impeccably designed. I loved seeing attendees and speakers mingle outside the auditorium during breaks. My favorite presentation was from Kutlu Çanlıoğlu on how the BBC accommodates a huge number of language on their many sites. And the most exciting moment was receiving an autograph from King Bansah.

Reflections of Meghan Arnold, Communications Manager:

This was my first TYPO and I’m so excited that we’ll get to experience this in the states next year. I’ve never been so creatively inspired in an auditorium before, by such a diverse group of speakers. The mix of students and design notaries created a most amazing vibe. I loved seeing the inspiring women who presented and their use of color and storytelling in design. Of particular note to me were Nat Hunter, Marina Willer and Morag Myerscough. And let’s not forget the killer sketch notes of Eva Lotta-Lamm!

You can find more wrap-up of TYPO London on their blog.

Did you attend the conference? What were some of your favorite moments? Who would you love to hear from in San Francisco?

By Meghan Arnold | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

TYPO SF: Coming 2012

October 25, 2011 – 3:22 PM

TYPO, Europe’s premier design conference, will hit American shores next year with an event in San Francisco. More information will be coming soon, but we wanted to confirm the exciting news announced at the close of the successful TYPO London conference this past Saturday.

Will we see you in SF?

By Meghan Arnold | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Introducing Mobile FontFonts for iOS Apps

October 10, 2011 – 11:16 AM

FontShop International released 14 font packs tailored specifically for use in iOS apps today, once again leading the way in typographic technology. Available at MobileFontFonts.com, the files are optimized to make the design process for creating beautiful iOS applications as seamless as possible.

Mobile FontFonts are optimized for screen and licensed for use on mobile devices. When designing a native app for a mobile device, like iPhone, Mobile FontFonts allow the designer to specify fonts outside the options that come preinstalled. Mobile FontFonts are presently supported in iOS only.

Introducing Mobile Fonts

Just like webfonts, mobile fonts protect brands and help set apps apart from the crowd. Optimized by hand for the device screen, Mobile FontFonts enhance the user experience. Mobile FontFonts let designers and developers break from the mold of system fonts and give their products some personality. With language support included, Mobile FontFonts allow for consistent, subtle branding to a global audience. 56 mobile fonts from 15 popular families are available in 14 packs with 4 fonts each.

Simple Licensing

Licensing for Mobile FontFonts serves the needs of the iOS developer. A team of up to five developers can share one license for their app portfolio. There’s no time limit on the license, nor annual royalty requirements, just a one-time license fee.

Time is Money

Mobile FontFonts are specifically formatted for embedding into an iOS app. No more hours spent converting fonts! Each is optimized for performance on screen and features developer-friendly licensing and pricing.

Try for Free

For a limited time, FontShop offers a free download of FF Basic Gothic Mobile Pro Black Italic for developers to test in iOS apps.

Although initially available only for use in iOS app development, mobile fonts for additional platforms will be released in the coming months. There are also plans to release additional font families, so designers can use typography to create truly 360-degree brands across desktop, web, and mobile.

Available Mobile Font Packages

Fourteen packages are available, containing four fonts each:

By Meghan Arnold | Also posted in Font Packages, FontShop Products | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

Octmobilefest is Coming

September 30, 2011 – 11:47 AM

The winter semester across Europe starts tomorrow and we wanted to remind students to review the ways to impress their typography teachers and make sure their iPads are pre-loaded with the FontBook app.

Additionally, students and non-students alike should stay tuned to this blog, as well as our Twitter and Facebook, throughout the next month for a little something we’re cooking up called Octmobilefest. Also, make sure you’re subscribed to next week’s newsletter for some exciting news from FontShop and FontFont!

By Meghan Arnold | Also posted in FontBook | Tagged | Comments (0)

Confluence of Conferences

September 15, 2011 – 4:05 PM

This is a big weekend for conferences in the type and design worlds. FontShop is proud to sponsor two events on both sides of the pond.

For the typophiles who made it to Iceland for ATypI, keep an eye out for the FontFont gang over the rest of the weekend.

Those who are heading to San Francisco for Under Consideration’s Brand New Conference can look for the crew from our office here.

Make sure to say “hi” at either event. Feel free to leave comments about your experiences below!

By Meghan Arnold | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

FontShop Friday Five: What’s New

September 2, 2011 – 1:54 PM

We know you’re busy and the Internet is a crowded place, so we’ll try to give you a little reminder on Fridays of what’s going on out there. Please find below five recent FontShop-related threads that you may have missed.

New Typefaces

David Sudweeks recaps the fonts joining our library this July and August (including new webfonts).

More Employee Faces

Meet Mayene, the new face on our Sales & Support team.

New Tips Column

Theresa explains it all to type newbies in her new Theresa’s Tips column.

New Album Cover Reviews

Yves Peters’ latest My Type of Music installment is rocking as always in its take on album art.

New Newsletter

We’re starting September with a great newsletter next Wednesday. Put signing up for it on your weekend to-do list.

Friday Five Fonts: Gala Triline and Gala Regular by Canada Type

By Meghan Arnold | Also posted in Font Support, FontShop Products, New Fonts | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Meet the Fontshopper: Mayene Joins Our Customer Service Team

August 30, 2011 – 2:55 PM

Earlier this month you met Theresa, who has spent four years assisting customers with support issues. Joining Theresa (and the other new faces at FontShop San Francisco) today is Mayene (pronounced “Mayan”), who will also be working on our Sales & Support team.

Mayene has a hamster named Donut that freaks out a lot, enjoys making oreo truffles and chocolate covered bacon for others (we’re excited to have her here for that alone), and likes board games and video games. Mayene shares a little about joining the FontShop team below:

How did you come into the customer service field?

It goes along with being a graphic designer. You deal with clients on a daily basis, so you have to have some customer service skills. I teach violin too and you have to be there for your students. Finally, as an owner of an Etsy shop, I get a lot of customer requests.

What are you most looking forward to as a FontShop employee?

After college I got really into fonts. As a designer you get a lot of questions about typefaces from friends. Being able to help people with their font needs, professionally, is pretty exciting for me.

What is your favorite typeface at the moment?

At the moment is a good clarification! FF Scala. It’s such a huge family and includes both serif and sans serifs. Pretty classic looking.

By Meghan Arnold | Also posted in Font Support | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

FontShop Friday Five: Resources & Revisiting

August 19, 2011 – 3:13 PM

We know you’re busy and the Internet is a crowded place, so we’ll try to give you a little reminder on Fridays of what’s going on out there. Below please find five recent FontShop-related threads that you may have missed.

Brush Up with our Education Resources

Just in time for the start of the school year, we’ve updated our education library with everything you wanted to know about webfonts and how licensing works.

New Foundry & New Fonts in Latest Newsletter

Did you miss our latest newsletter on Wednesday? Read it here. Then check out our new foundry, Canada Type, as well as the great new selections from Sudtipos and Three Islands Press. You can subscribe to newsletters on this page to get this font delight in your inbox twice a month.

A New Perspective on FontBook App

Our new type expert explores the FontBook for iPad.

Be There or Be Square

We’re pretty darn excited for our big designer/developer meetup on Wednesday. Are you coming? Can’t make it? What would you ask our panel if you could?

On the Font Feed

Yves Peters highlights two film projects with a focus on type history. Speaking of film, help Yves show Austin what’s up with Trajan in Movie Posters at SXSW 2012.

Friday Five Fonts: Sugar Pie by Sudtipos and Gibson by Canada Type

By Meghan Arnold | Also posted in FontBook, FontShop Education, New Fonts | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)
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