Feminist Fonts

A question we always return to is, “how to practice intersectional feminism?” Or, how do we make our working practices align with feminist theories and values? In the early stages of growing FCH, we began by thinking of how we communicate, which led to a lot of research about fonts… 

We collaborated with artist Leonie Brialey (some of her work can be found by following this link https://linesloinslions.tumblr.com). 

Leonie created our logo and visual identity, and she also gathered together a long list of fonts (some free, some not) from designers who were not cis-het men. We have shared Leonie’s research below. Thanks, Leonie! 

The fonts we chose to work with are free; include the Finnish and Swedish letters (ä, ö, and å); and can be added to Google docs. 

For our Website Headers we use Yatra One, designed by Berlin-based artist Catherine Leigh Schmidt.
A link to Catherine’s website here: http://cath.land
Download the font here: https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Yatra+One

For our Website Body Text, we use Palanquin, designed by Pria Ravichandran.
Download the font here: https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Palanquin+Dark

For Document Text, we use the “light” version of  Signika Negative, designed by Anna Giedryś.
Anna’s website is here: http://ancymonic.com
Download the font here: https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Signika+Negative?preview.text_type=custom

We also went down a few rabbit holes learning about: 

Gilbert font, which can be accessed by clicking this link: https://www.typewithpride.com/ 
It was created by Ogilvy & Mather and inspired by LGBTQ activist and artist Gilbert Baker, who was known for helping friends create banners for protests and marches. 

Follow this link to access the “Badass Libre Fonts by Womxn” archive: https://www.design-research.be/by-womxn/

A network of more than 230 “all women” contributors who work in the fields of lettering, typography, and type design, can be accessed via this link: www.alphabettes.org

Queer type, by designer Yulia Popova (which is also the font used on the bathroom doors at our working space, Poimu), can be found on Yulia’s website, which is linked here: http://yulia-popova.com/


Here is Leonie’s long list in the following format: Font name, and link where it can be downloaded and / or purchased. If the font is free, we’ve made a note of that before the font name.  

FREE! Almendra https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Almendra

Alquin https://www.fontshop.com/families/urw-type-foundry-alcuin

Calligraphic Griffo https://www.fontspring.com/fonts/alice-tebaldi/calligraphic-griffo?refby=identifont

FREE! Ch Vladica https://www.dafont.com/ch-vladica.font

Din Next https://www.fontshop.com/families/din-next

Eskorte https://www.rosettatype.com/Eskorte

FF Mister K https://www.fontshop.com/families/ff-mister-k

FREE! Hind https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Hind

FREE! Infini http://cnap.graphismeenfrance.fr/infini/

Kopius https://www.myfonts.com/fonts/kontour-type/kopius/

Line https://lettersfromsweden.se/font/line/

Maiola https://www.fontshop.com/families/maiola

Neusa Next https://www.myfonts.com/fonts/northernblock/neusa-next/  

FREE! Pt Sans https://www.google.com/fonts/specimen/PT+Sans

Solex regular https://www.myfonts.com/fonts/emigre/solex-ot/

Tidy Script https://www.myfonts.com/fonts/indian-type-foundry/tidy-script/