It wasn’t that long ago that new Typefaces were only released with a couple of weights – and maybe an italic design or two. Those who designed typefaces and made fonts did not have the luxury of time or the financial means to develop large all-singing all-dancing Typeface families. The first designs of Helvetica® were released without italics – as were the first additions to the ITC Avant Garde Gothic® family. And Hermann Zapf’s iconic Palatino® was first announced as available in just two weights and only one italic design.

While less common today, many designers still cannot devote months to creating a fully realized Typeface Family. Since new typeface design is a financially speculative endeavor, designers often have other “paying” jobs like creating custom typeface for clients, or working as freelance graphic and interactive designers.

So it is with Akira Kobayshi. In addition to drawing new and original typefaces, he is a type director at Monotype, and in demand to develop custom branding typefaces for a variety of Monotype clients. It was these responsibilities that put roadblocks in the development of the Akko® typeface family.

Kobayshi’s original intent to was to create a “soft” organic sans serif typeface. Early in the process of developing this design, however, he realized that a more “industrial strength” sans, with the same shapes and proportions, would also be a natural addition to the family. He was able to devote several months to the creation of these designs – but then custom typefaces and other projects put demands on his time.