Type for the people, by the people!
There was a time when major type foundries owned and designed most of the formal typefaces we saw in most media. These foundries employed typographers to create typeface families, which they sold to companies and agencies for design and marketing projects.
That all began to change in the late 1900s with the invention and mass adoption of the personal computer. And we should be thankful that things did change. In the 1980s, Apple Computer and Microsoft included free typefaces (some designed by them) with their computers and operating systems. They wisely thought that their new inventions should have typefaces to match them and make them more appealing to consumers.
Free typefaces from big companies for the people
Recently, larger, well-known companies have jumped on the free type bandwagon and released professionally designed typefaces for use by anyone, for any purpose, for free.
Here are two examples of wonderful humanist sans-serif typefaces released for free.
The internet changed type forever
The invention of the internet further democratized the type industry by allowing regular people, aspiring typographers, and type hobbyists to design unique typefaces and share them with the world. You no longer need a degree in typography or any special skills to create and distribute your own typefaces. I should note that a bit of studying on the subject matter will make you a better typographer.
These are a few of the many websites that offer free fonts for download. Some have a helpful social component, like FontSquirrel’s HOT list, that allows you to see what the world is downloading and what is most popular.
Be careful: most websites offer free fonts that are licensed only for personal or at-home use. Think family websites, that annual Christmas card dad likes to design, a Fido’s missing poster, or a garage sale sign. Font Squirrel claims that all its fonts are free for commercial and personal use. I read the Read-Me files included with most fonts just to be sure.
Headline vs. Book Fonts (Website Fonts)
Like anything in life, most of the time you get what you pay for. Some free typefaces are better than others. Some are only for display and headlines, while others feature a full family of weights and styles.
Font Classifications on Free Font Websites
Most free font websites classify their font offerings using categories that their customers are requesting. Here’s Font Squirrel’s classification chart:
