Insights

November 20, 2024

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Our Design Team's Favourite Type Foundries Right Now

Typography permeates every aspect of our daily lives. From the street signs that guide us through cities to the websites we navigate online, typography plays a fundamental role in communicating information effectively.

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As graphic designers, our role involves meticulously navigating the vast array of typographic choices available to us, ensuring we find the correct solution for each project. While this process can sometimes be tedious, having a reliable arsenal of trusted type foundries, companies that design or distribute typefaces, greatly streamlines our workflow and saves valuable time.

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These are our design team’s favourite foundries right now:

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Nick, Lead Graphic Designer

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Favourite Foundry right now: Ultratypes, Spain

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Barcelona based Ultratypes is a small, independent type foundry. Founded in 2013, the foundry’s goal has been to share and publish typefaces designed by friends without having to go through big distributors.

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Ultratypes are my pick for one simple reason – i’m desperate to find a project where I can use their typefaces UT Barrel and UT Nickel. The foundry has a pretty lean catalogue, placing focus on display typefaces and typographic experimentation, making Ultratypes a great place to find something special that will be sure to stand out.

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Favourite Ultratypes typeface right now: UT Nickel

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UT Nickel is a geometric script typeface with a beautiful angularity and rhythm. I'm drawn to typographic contrasts, and the juxtaposition of constructing a wholly angular typeface within a space traditionally characterised by smooth curves and fluid motion ticks all the boxes for me.

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Charles, Senior Graphic Designer

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Favourite Foundry right now: Dinamo, Germany

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My favourite foundry at the moment (and, admittedly, for a considerable while now) is Dinamo, for the simple reason that they're consistently creating and releasing some of the best designed typefaces out there. They're really a great go-to for well-built typefaces which will get the job done — and I really do appreciate when a foundry also makes some weird stuff; I'm a fan of weird stuff. In Dinamo's case, their typeface Galapagos is a lot of fun. Years later, I'm still hoping to find a project where I can use it.

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Favourite typeface right now: ABC Diatype

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ABC Diatype is a gorgeous grotesque sans-serif which has an insane amount of families – seven to be exact – ranging from Compressed all the way to Expanded, with even Semi-Mono and Mono versions. I have a very serious weakness for Monospace typefaces, and if there's a Mono that's part of a wider sans family, then I'm completely won over.

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Simon, Graphic Designer

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Favourite Foundry right now: A2 Type, UK

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Established in 2011, A2 Type is a UK-based online foundry and type design consultancy. Their focus lies in creating contemporary typefaces, offering a diverse range of workhorse typefaces alongside expressive display typefaces brimming with character. A2 demonstrates a refreshingly bold approach that transcends the boundaries of a single typeface class.

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Favourite A2 Type typeface right now: Beckett

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Beckett is a geometric ultra-condensed typeface that strikes a pleasing balance between integrating stylistic elements and maintaining legibility.

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I'm particularly fond of robust condensed typefaces with character, reminiscent of the wood type era. Their versatility and visual presence when used in display capacities make them a go-to choice for me.

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Amy, Junior Graphic Designer

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Favourite Foundry right now: Displaay

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Displaay is a Prague-based, independent type foundry established in 2014. They focus on retail and custom typefaces with the aim of developing distinctive typefaces that are missing on the market. They’re my favourite foundry at the moment because, while I’m generally tempted to go for a more experimental and perhaps less known foundry, it’s important to our work to have solid, well-built typefaces from a foundry that is experienced, thorough and pays as much attention to the details as we will. Additionally, Displaay’s typefaces have that playful spark and an eye-catching flare when building even a seemingly boring typeface.

They say “Specific moments of imperfection and spontaneous irregularities inspire our ethos,” which sits really well with what I believe design should be about. ‍

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Favourite typeface right now: Jokker

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Jokker is a fun and playful sans serif typeface with an elevated x-height, diagonal and tight terminals and shorter descenders and ascenders to make the lines of text more compact. I do have a particular affinity for geometric typefaces and the subtle details that are noticeable in several glyphs in Jokker (which could be inktraps, smiles or even haunting faces) make it an interesting typeface and considered typeface.

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Kenshō Agency & Ads.gi Joins Forces with the Capurro Group

INTRO

After several years of collaboration, we’re thrilled to announce that the Capurro Group has acquired a majority stake in Kenshō Agency & Ads.gi, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership that will propel us to new heights.With over 150 years of business expertise, the Capurro Group brings an extensive network and deep industry knowledge, enabling Kenshō Agency to operate on a more global scale.

This partnership strengthens our ability to serve our clients, unlocking new opportunities, markets, and strategic connections that will enhance the value we deliver to them.

Having worked together for nearly a decade, this move is a natural evolution of our shared vision. With Capurro Group's backing, Kenshō Agency is poised for unprecedented growth while continuing to innovate and push boundaries.

We’re incredibly excited for this next chapter and the possibilities it brings, not just for us but for our clients, partners, and the industries we serve.

Stay tuned for what’s next!

News

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Two Weeks at Kenshō: My Internship Experience

When I first came across the internship at Kenshō, I was looking for an opportunity in Gibraltar before heading into my final year at university... Something that would give me a taste of life in a creative studio and a chance to finally put into practice what I’d been studying. I was lucky to find Kenshō advertising a two-week student internship on their social media, and I applied immediately.

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I had already referenced Kenshō in my university work as an inspiring agency in Gibraltar, so I was familiar with their work. They had a range of different projects with a clean, thought-out style. I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. It felt like it was the perfect place to learn, contribute, and grow as a graphic design student in Gibraltar and also prepare me for my final year in University.

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Before starting, I was quite nervous. It was a completely new environment, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I worried about whether I’d be able to apply my graphic design knowledge from university in a real-world setting, and even whether I’d enjoy working in a design agency despite studying Graphic Design. I imagined I might just be observing from the sidelines and quietly working at a desk. But from my very first day, I realised I had nothing to worry about. The team couldn’t have been more approachable and welcoming. They made me feel included straight away, showing patience and taking the time to explain their roles in depth. During my first week, they walked me through how to process a new client brief and encouraged me to contribute by sharing my ideas and sketches throughout the design journey.

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Over the two-week internship, I was given the chance to get involved in real client work. I sat in on meetings, joined creative discussions, and watched how ideas are designed, refined, and brought to life from start to finish. It was amazing to be part of these sessions and to see first-hand how the team translates a client’s vision into design, and how they handle feedback in such a professional and creative way. I quickly realised just how much groundwork goes into a project before design even begins, particularly the initial communication and research phases. I discovered I really enjoyed the strategic part of the process, which is something I might not have realised without this internship. Along the way, I also learnt the basics of software I hadn’t used before, like Figma, as well as valuable design tips and platforms that I’ll now take forward into my university work.

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The studio environment at Kenshō was inspiring and extremely encouraging. Everyone was supportive and always happy to answer questions. I enjoyed going into the office every morning and looked forward to it over the weekend. I am now leaving this internship with a much clearer understanding of what it’s like to work in a creative team and how graphic design works in practice. I have learnt how to approach projects, and the difference that good communication makes in producing the best design possible. Every single day within these two weeks I have walked out the office having learnt something new, making it a very valuable step in my design journey. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and excited to take what I’ve learnt into my future work.

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Thank you Kenshō!

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Insights

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Welcoming Zsuzsa Papp to the team

News

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