Fonts from Colophon Foundry

Colophon is a human-centric agency for typography, with its offices and headquarters in Islington, London.

We combine creative typographic vision with the highest quality technical solutions to create typographic assets that power brand differentiation at scale for some of the world’s most recognised brands, including Instagram, Google, Cadillac and Burger King.

Operational for over a decade, co-founders Anthony and Edd’s vision remains the same; to better the typographic world around us, creating value for customers, type users and readers alike.

Popular Colophon fonts.

Drawing of Aperçu began in December 2009, and was tried & tested throughout a number of design commissions. Aperçu aims to create a synopsis or amalgamation of classic realist typefaces — Johnston, Gill Sans, Neuzeit & Franklin Gothic — into a contemporary flavor. A sum of parts from the outset, Aperçu builds upon these initial reference points to create an extensive and usable family.

Initially drawn in a single Regular style for the comprehensive re-design of photography magazine Hotshoe. Basis was exhaustively refined and extended into a seven-style brood, and in-so-doing has been tested in copious iterations and sub-iterations across countless platforms, printed and otherwise.

Originally commissioned in 2014 for Los Angeles-based apparel company Nasty Gal—named as such after the 1975 album and song of the same name by influential funk singer Betty Davis (b. Betty Mabry, 1945)—Mabry is the commercial iteration of the former NG Grotesque.

Combining influences from Windsor (from Stephenson Blake & Co’s Wood Letter Specimen, 1915) and Richmond Old Style (from DeLittle’s Wood Type Specimens, 1966), Grenette’s imposing serifs contrast with the serif-less interiors of certain forms such as «n», «h» and «v» which allows its personality to lie within intentional asymmetry and subtle quirks. Certain characteristics evolve through the styles (Light through Black) as weight increases; from the Serifs being round and bulged in the Light weight to square and sturdy in the Black weight giving Grenette a distinct appearance across all styles.

The UPPERCASE contains a distinct flavor of its own, and its expressive nature gives real texture to ALL CAPS settings. This is particularly noticeable in forms such as the «U», «B», «R» and «D» that bulge on their vertical stress.

Grenette is available in five weights — Light, Regular, SemiBold, Bold and Black — all with corresponding Italics. A series of swashes and subtle ligatures are accessible through OpenType features, allowing multiple and contrasting expressions within the same type family.

Originally created as a bespoke typeface for the 2013 and 2014 identity of design conference and competition Visuelt (Oslo, Norway) – also known as the National Norwegian Design Awards – Visuelt spawned from a more considered and constrained version of the earlier 2010 type family, Aperçu. From its initial roots and underlying aesthetic, new details were brought in to remove some of the more distinguishable features of Aperçu and make way for a new tone of voice and trajectory.

The lightest weight takes on thin precise curves, while on the heaviest weight counters are opened and sharp terminal ends chiseled to provide small technical details to an otherwise brutish and heavy face. Copious stylistic alternates are available via OpenType features.

Visuelt is available in seven weights — Thin, ExtraLight, Light, Regular, Medium, Bold and Black — all with corresponding Italics.

Value is a contemporary family of two typefaces: Value Sans and Value Serif, each borrowing their geometries from the other. Both derivatives were drawn in response to conversations centered around notions of cultural and fiscal exchange: Value Sans borrows style and behavior from precedents like Elegant Grotesk (DE) and Granby (UK); Value Serif pays homage to forebears like Plantin Infant (FR + US) and Italian Old Style (US).

Value Sans was drawn first by Colophon Foundry (UK), while the Serif was drawn shortly after by designer Benjamin Critton (US).

Value Sans is now available in 4 weights — Regular, Medium, Bold & Black – with corresponding Italics

Fonts in use.

Meet the team.

Managing Director

Anthony Sheret

Anthony Sheret is the Managing Director and Founder at Colophon Foundry. Studying at LCC, UK and University of Brighton, UK, Anthony founded Colophon along with Edd in 2009. Since then, his role as Business Director has seen him manage and steer large contracts for global projects, alongside development of the company's strategic plan and marketing activities

Creative Director

Edd Harrington

Edd Harrington is the Creative Director and Founder at Colophon Foundry. Since co-founding Colophon in 2009, Edd has worked with a diverse range of high-profile clients including Google, Instagram and Cadillac on projects that are instrumental to some of the world’s largest brands. He leads the creative outputs of the studio alongside providing technical insight and directive

Colophon fonts are included in Monotype Fonts.

Learn more.