Graphic

Type Design’s Favorite App Finds Its Voice — Font Editor Glyphs Debuts New Identity and Site Redesign

Since its creation in 2011, Glyphs has risen to become the software of choice for novice and professional typophiles to explore font creation and customization – utilized by global brands like Toyota, Volkswagen, Sephora and even Apple and Google. However over the years, its own branding has belied its tremendous industry influence. So, on the eve of the launch of the newest version, Glyphs 3, the app founders turned to longtime collaborator Matteo Bologna of Mucca and budding designer & creative director Andrea Trabucco-Campos to craft an identity and website fueled by the design community and its love of type.

No strangers to the app, Trabucco-Campos and Bologna not only have experience using Glyphs professionally but are passionate believers in its contributions to the design industry. This meant not only building a new identity system but reimagining the website as a deeper tool for community learning; showcasing the app and providing a resource for type designers. Trabucco-Campos and Bologna worked with developer Chris Corby to simplify the architecture for ease of navigation, enhancing access to tutorials and resources, and showcasing type designers’ projects in a dynamic way, including using a single, unreleased Variable font by ABC Dinamo called ABC Arizona, drawn and developed entirely within Glyphs.

The team also revamped the “Learn” section of the site (previously called Tutorials), anchoring it to a more robust search function. Now, any search query will give the user a wide range of articles and tutorials, tackling everything from customization to coding. Also, because the section is likely to become an ongoing resource, they made each article bookmarkable so the users can return to find their most useful lessons.

The logo and identity are similarly meticulous in their construction, with a color palette that builds on the heritage green that distinguishes Glyphs from its competitors, evolving it to a more vibrant, dynamic and ownable green. The extended palette uses a combination of brights and darks that allow flexibility within the site and social media. They also designed and art directed abstractions of the app environment that were later animated by Abel Martins— resulting in a new form of community engagement for Glyphs.