Comments on: Taking Your Fonts to Market: Foundry, Reseller, or Go Solo?

By: Stephen Coles

Stephen Coles — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:18:05 +0000

Hi Eric. As far as I know, resellers won’t require a legally registered corporation. They’ll just want a name so they can label your fonts, and how well you use that name to create your brand is up to you.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:12:41 +0000

Thanks for the helpful article but I still wonder about something – Do I have to actually own/register a company with the name that i want to represent me, say “X-name” if I want to sign with a reseller?
Can I just create an account with a “x” name that isn’t a registered company?

By: Stephen Coles

Stephen Coles — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:33:09 +0000

What software is needed to digitze and create a working font?

There are a few different font editing applications. FontLab is used by the vast majority of professionals, tho often with the addition of other apps and scripts to streamline production.

What is the minimum of design needed in order for someone to submit their special font design to a foundry, reseller etc? Just a drawing?

It varies by foundry. Sometimes a drawing is enough to start a conversation, others prefer a completed font. But sometimes it’s better to submit something earlier in the process to leave room for feedback, adjustments, and help with development.

By: Keivn Edward Gaghan

Keivn Edward Gaghan — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:36:11 +0000

What software is needed to digitze and create a working font?

What is the minimum of design needed in order for someone to submit their special font design to a foundry, reseller etc? Just a drawing? Good article. Just an ice berg tip though currently.

By: Rafael

Rafael — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 02:38:20 +0000

For people who intend to earn income by designing consistent, finely crafted text typeface families, it seems that there's a more fundamental issue to address than production, promotion and marketing models: the steep challenge that is making a living off designing type. In this Typophile thread where the topic is discussed, there's a general agreement on the analogy between actually building a career in type design and rockstardom: "Everyone wants to do it, but only a select few make a living at it". It was very discouraging.

By: Martin Wenzel

Martin Wenzel — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:29:48 +0000

Stephen, thanks for a good unbiased read. I’m currently testing model number 3 :-)

By: James Montalbano

James Montalbano — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:06:49 +0000

Going it alone is difficult, time-consuming and expensive. But I can’t imagine giving up 50 or more percent to be part of a vast library with no control over what else is in that library.
I understand that not many type designers are interested in business or marketing, but I find the whole thing fascinating, and negotiating a large OEM contract makes it all worthwhile!

Good luck with your future plans Stephen.

By: jordy

jordy — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:48:45 +0000

Going it alone is very difficult unless you are already very well known. )Just got back on to Typographica after months of absence. Great new look.) My advice is do the best work you can, go to a reliable font vendor and hope for the best. There is or can be an awesome amount of work in type design so I feel it best to let a professional firm do the marketing work while the designer can concentrate on design.

By: Stephen Coles

Stephen Coles — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:41:37 +0000

For more insight into working with a foundry you can hear about the experience of three FontFont designers here.

By: Typographica

Typographica — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:15:02 +0000

Diego, it’s fairly simple: the more time you spend marketing your work, the better it will sell, particularly if you know how to market. But if you’re a type designer and marketing and business is not your bag, I don’t see anything wrong with passing that role on to someone who does it well so you can spend more time doing what you do well.

On the “customer costs” — if you think there is no technical support involved in selling fonts, I invite you to spend a day with me here at FontShop.