A sign of something better When designer Stuart de Rozario surveyed the fonts used in signage on London’s public transport systems, he reached a dead end. They seemed staid, sterile, lacking in personality, and ill-suited to use by modern brands. He was pointed in another direction entirely. ‘The driving force behind my thoughts was to design something more current and fresh without compromising legibility and clarity. A font with both personality and function, that’s versatile and large and small sizes, and effortless to read, but which also says something new.’ Speed reading Late for a meeting and can’t find your way? Trying to catch a flight? Lost in a hospital? Reading signs is a different business to reading a book or a newspaper. Text on signs needs to be deciphered quickly and effortlessly. So the legibility criteria for signage letterforms are different to those for normal reading, too. Throughout FS Millbank’s uppercase and lowercase alphabets, characters have been given features for extra definition, including: wide ink traps on the A, K, M, V, W, X and Y; a serifed i, accentuated spurs on the a, d, l u; and different x-height shapes on the b, g, p and q. Distinctive forms and generous, open internal shapes all help the quick reading of sign text, and wide, open terminals and counters allow similar letter shapes to be distinguished easily when viewed at different angles. Running down a corridor, maybe... Positive/negative Standard type tends to glow on the kind of dark backgrounds often used for signage, and look heavier than its true weight. To correct the imbalance caused by this optical trick, special weights of the typeface have to be drawn for these ‘negative’, light-on-dark applications. These are lighter than their comparable positive weights to overcome the ‘glow’ effect. After extensive tests of the negative weights, at all sizes, we achieved the right optical balance. Glowing, glowing, gone. Icons This wouldn’t be a signage typeface without its own set of icons, or symbols, to help people find what they’re looking for. So, to sit alongside the positive and negative fonts, we’ve created a comprehensive set of 172 icons, covering a wide range of applications from transport and user interface to information and directional. Designed within the typeface capital height, they sit on the baseline and are spaced centrally.

TwentyFourNinetyOne [2491] is a reinterpretation of the alphabet of 1919 by Theo van Doesburg; the original a true rendering of the thinking of the Dutch-based art movement “de Stijl.” Jump forward to 1980 and prop lettering used on the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century television series; a vernacular typeface that was a utilitarian mix of geometry and pixel-based forms, used to symbolize the futuristic universe of 2491. At times it would appear on spaceships, laser guns, signage at space ports or in one episode, a Spandex tapestry. It only seemed logical to combine and rethink the letterforms, add ligatures + other extras, and see what the results would be. Futuristic, fun and bold to read! 2491: In the future, all type will look like this.

Introducing Moxie Twist, a captivating revival typeface that pays homage to the timeless elegance of 1930's design. Inspired by the iconic typography of the era, this font seamlessly blends nostalgia with a modern twist. With its unique flair and charming details, Moxie Twist breathes new life into vintage aesthetics, infusing your designs with a touch of sophistication and character. Whether you're working on branding materials, editorial layouts, or poster designs, this font will transport your audience to a bygone era while maintaining a fresh and contemporary feel. Rediscover the spirit of the past with Moxie Twist and let it lend an air of classic elegance to your next project, adding a touch of timeless allure that is sure to captivate.

Introducing Northura, the epitome of elegance and versatility in the world of typography. This stunning modern sans typeface effortlessly combines minimalism, beauty, and legibility in perfect harmony. With an extensive range of 30 weights to choose from, Northura provides unparalleled flexibility, allowing you to tailor your designs with precision and finesse. Its clean and sleek lines evoke a sense of contemporary sophistication, making it ideal for a wide range of projects, from editorial layouts to branding materials. Whether you're aiming for a sleek and professional look or a stylish and artistic approach, Northura will elevate your designs to new heights, leaving a lasting impression on your audience. Embrace the essence of modern aesthetics with Northura and let its timeless elegance redefine your typographic journey.

Alexander Quill was originally designed in the early 1980s to be cut in 14 point for casting into foundry type for the setting and printing of limited edition books at Pie Tree Press, Jim Rimmer's private sanctum. This alphabet exhibits traditional calligraphic tension, which helps its simple, somewhat octagonal forms play well together for an easy read. Its setting expresses a dramatic sense of history or fantasy. Alexander Quill was updated and remastered for the latest technologies in 2012. It comes with plenty of built-in alternates, a glyphset of over 410 characters, and supports the majority of Latin-based languges. 20% of this font's revenues will be donated to the GDC Scholarship Fund, supporting higher typography education in Canada.

Shablon is a Stencil style serif typeface. The family consists of 6 fonts: Shablon Regular, Shablon Italic, Shablon Condensed Regular, Shablon Condensed Italic, Shablon Extended Regular, Shablon Extended Italic. Every font includes uppercase and lowercase letters. You can use Shablon for graphic designs that call for a rough-and-ready look, a military look, or even to create real stencils for signs and marking boxes or luggage. Shablon continues the design of Shablon CYR, created in 1994 by Zhivko Stankulov. A number of shortcomings in the construction of the glyphs have been eliminated, and the typeface as a whole has been updated. Shablon is available with active support and upgradeability. Licensees will receive all new versions of the font free of charge.