Neo Sans began as an intriguing assignment from a branding agency. The agency’s client wanted an “ultra modern” type family that was "futuristic without being gimmicky or ephemeral.” When a bureaucratic decision cancelled the project, Monotype staff designer Sebastian Lester decided to finish the design on his own. “I was left with a sketchbook full of ideas,” he said, “and thought it would be a shame not to see what came of them.” Lester decided that the principal ingredient of an "ultra modern" typeface was simplicity of character structure: a carefully drawn, monoline form, open letter shapes and smooth, strong curves. By further amplifying these qualities, he crossed the line from modern to futuristic. Two highly functional and versatile typefaces emerged. These are Neo Sans and Neo Tech, designs Lester describes as "legible without being neutral, nuanced without being fussy, and expressive without being distracting." Both the Neo Sans and the more minimalist Neo Tech families are available in six weights, ranging from Light to Ultra, with companion italics. Neo Tech offers a suite of alternate characters.

A 1918 lettering instruction book by William Hugh Gordon presented a number of lettering styles that were geared toward sign and show card painters along with tips and tricks regarding the correct construction of such signs for maximum effect. One pen lettered Roman alphabet with a beautiful set of numerals has been recreated digitally as Pen Elegant JNL, which is available in both regular and oblique versions. To note, Gordon was the co-inventor of the Speedball lettering pen with Ross F. George in 1915.