Free and Open Source Fonts Selected by Filippos Fragkogiannis

At a time when valuable software is often kept behind payment barriers, open source fonts break down those restrictions, providing graphic designers, design students, and typography enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds with access to useful resources, all without financial constraints.

Open-source fonts enable artists and creators to delve into, adapt, and push the boundaries of typographic creativity, showcasing the immense potential of collaborative innovation. They represent freedom and boundless possibilities. Since the integration of computers into our everyday existence, digital fonts have emerged as essential components of online culture.

Freely available fonts are convenient resources that offer quick solutions to various needs. Not only are they accessible to a global audience, they can also be easily acquired and installed on a wide range of devices, fostering an inclusive and welcoming sense of community.

Athens-based graphic designer Filippos Fragkogiannis employs a traditional approach in his works with typefaces, one that has shown its lasting value. He supports the idea that high-quality design tools should be accessible to everyone. Below, Filippos has curated a selection of 10 free open source fonts that can benefit freelancers and design newcomers alike.

1. Uncut SansUncut Sans is a quirky sans-serif typeface designed by Kasper Nordkvist, a digital designer based in Denmark. Originally created for the UNCUT.wtf website, it was released in January 2022. Uncut Sans is fairly comprehensive, offering 12 weights ranging from Light to Bold, including Italics. The typeface is licensed under the SIL Open Font License, which allows the licensed fonts to be freely used, studied, modified, and redistributed.

2. SpratReleased in 2020 by French graphic and type designer Ethan Nakache, Sprat is a retro-inspired variable typeface that features 18 styles with two axes for width and weight. Sprat is known for distinctive long, sharp serifs and the striking contrast between thin and thick strokes. Sprat can be used for both personal and commercial projects, but remember to give proper credit to the designer and Colletttivo when sharing the work.

3. KarrikKarrik is an open-source typeface created by designers Jean-Baptiste Morizot and Lucas Le Bihan. The design process began in March 2019, culminating in October of the same year. Notably, Karrik stands out with distinctive features, such as weight imbalances, the absence of optical corrections, and unconventional letter proportions. Its versatility shines in both larger display sizes and body text. The typeface draws inspiration from the Breton mythological figure Ankou, often portrayed as a skeletal or hooded figure. Ankou is believed to symbolise or serve as the harbinger of death, collecting the souls of the deceased.

4. BBBouquet BrischkePart of the BBBouquet collection by Lobbby24, BBBouquet Bold, also known as Brischke, was designed by Hannes Brischke and was introduced on February 28, 2021. A bouquet is a harmonious arrangement of flowers, each from different species and origins. When given as a gift, a bouquet conveys the hopes and wishes of the giver, serving as a means of communication. BBBouquet comprises three styles, all stemming from the same source but displaying distinct characteristics. Lobbby24 has developed three fonts that share a common starting point yet evolve into unique expressions: one is dramatic and elegant, another is daring and spiky, and the third is cosy and sturdy.

5. Space GroteskSpace Grotesk is a proportional sans-serif typeface that draws its inspiration from Colophon Foundry’s fixed-width Space Mono family from 2016. Designed by Florian Karsten in 2018, Space Grotesk retains the monospace’s idiosyncratic details while optimising for improved readability at non-display sizes. The typeface includes Latin Vietnamese, Pinyin, and all Western, Central, and South-Eastern European language support, as well as several OpenType features (old-style and tabular figures, superscript and subscript numerals, fractions, stylistic alternates). It has been made available under the SIL Open Font License.

6. Open Sauce SansOpen Sauce Sans is a sans-serif typeface designed by Alfredo Marco Pradil. It was developed for his company Creative Sauce and released as open-source under the SIL Open Font License. It consists of three versions: Open Sauce Sans, Open Sauce One, and Open Sauce Two. The differences between these fonts are quite subtle. Open Sauce is compact and excels in providing excellent readability on both screens and paper. Each of the three font families includes a total of 14 styles (seven weights, accompanied by corresponding italics) and offers extensive language support.

7. NacelleNacelle, a neo-grotesque sans-serif typeface designed by Sora Sagano, improves upon readability and character distinction when compared to its forerunner, Aileron. Offering eight distinct weights, each accompanied by italics, Nacelle’s polished and professional design is fitting for both headlines and body text. It is freely accessible for both personal and commercial purposes, with usage governed by the Open Font License. Nacelle provides a comprehensive set of uppercase and lowercase letters, in addition to various special characters. Its metric and detail adjustments aim to achieve a more organic appearance, making it suitable for broad application in user interfaces and design projects.

8. ArchivoArchivo is a grotesque sans-serif font family designed by Argentina-based designer Héctor Gatti of Omnibus-Type. It was meticulously crafted to be suitable for both print and digital platforms, featuring technical and aesthetic characteristics optimised for high-performance typography. With support for over 200 world languages, Archivo became a variable font in 2021, offering a wide range of styles from Thin to Black and from ExtraCondensed to Expanded through its weight and width axes. Taking inspiration from American typefaces of the late nineteenth century, Archivo was originally conceived for use in highlights and headlines.

9. Gangster GroteskGangster Grotesk is a no-cost font that pays homage to its historical origins from the 1920s. It adeptly combines sharp contrasts with subtly curving angled terminal strokes, adding character to the typeface while remaining almost imperceptible at smaller sizes. Designed by Adrien Midzic, a type designer based in Paris and part of Pizza Typefaces, Gangster Grotesk celebrates the beauty of typographic contrast. It’s suitable for various applications, including print and digital. Its slightly condensed width is thoughtfully optimised for small-sized body text. Commissioned by Fresh Fonts, an email newsletter that promotes independent type designers and type emerging foundries, Gangster Grotesk offers all three weights for free use, both for personal and commercial purposes, to those who subscribe to the Fresh Fonts newsletter.

10. Fivo Sans ModernFivo Sans Modern, an eye-catching display variant of Fivo Sans by Prague-based graphic and type designer Alex Slobzheninov, stands out with its notably large ink traps. This typeface is well-suited for creating striking headlines, posters, logos, covers, and similar projects that demand bold, contemporary lettering. The font family comprises five weights, ranging from Regular to Extra Black, totalling 358 characters per weight. Fivo Sans Modern is freely available for both personal and commercial usage. It pairs seamlessly with Fivo Sans, sharing its Swiss Typography and modern type design roots.

Before using any of these fonts in your projects, it is important to note that each font release comes with its own specific rules listed in the respective license. To ensure transparency and compliance with licenses and usage restrictions, it is recommended that you carefully review the license provided – terms may change and it is always best to check the source. For example, Gangster Grotesk is available for both personal and commercial use, but should not be classified as an open source font.

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