About the Fonts

Several years ago, a unique project was initiated to create a custom set of fonts tailored to meet FCC requirements for closed captioning on US television sets. This endeavor combined expertise from video game art direction with in-depth research on curve rendering and angle behavior on TV screens.

The testing phase was crucial and unconventional. Instead of using high-end equipment, the designer collected discarded TV sets to simulate real-world viewing conditions. This approach, while risky (one old TV even exploded!), provided invaluable insights into how the fonts would appear on various worst-case-scenario displays, from analog to HD and LCD screens.

The design process revealed several key considerations:

1. Viewing distance: Tests were conducted from afar to mimic typical viewing habits.
2. Dazzle effect: Slightly rounded edges were implemented to reduce visual distortion.
3. Line fuzziness: Abrupt curves at letter tops and bottoms maintained crispness without causing sparkle.

The font philosophy drew inspiration from 1970s airport signage, particularly Adrian Frutiger’s work. This influenced decisions such as creating more open apertures for improved legibility from a distance.

For serif fonts, slab serifs were chosen to prevent on-screen sparkling. The overall design prioritized clarity in challenging conditions, resulting in a somewhat technical aesthetic.

Addressing FCC style requirements like “script” and “casual” presented unique challenges:

• Script: Inspired by typewriter fonts to ensure readability in all-caps scenarios.
• Casual: A Comic Sans-inspired approach was adopted, balancing readability with a more relaxed feel.

Over time, the font collection has been expanded and refined, including:

• Enhanced language coverage
• Improved kerning
• Added fonts for European manufacturer specifications
• Optional UI fonts for TV menu systems