What Hoefler & Frere-Jones' Breakup Means for the Future of Type Design

Chances are you've looked at the work of Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones at least one time today. The type designers are behind many of the world's most-loved fonts, like Gotham, made famous by Obama's 2008 campaign. But according to a nasty legal document making the rounds today, the duo has parted ways.

Font Gods Hoefler & Frere-Jones Split in Nasty Corporate DivorceFont Gods Hoefler & Frere-Jones Split in Nasty Corporate DivorceFont Gods Hoefler & Frere-Jones Split in Nasty

Few graphic-design institutions are (or were) as highly regarded as Hoefler & Frere-Jones, a… Read more Read more

As the type foundry Hoefler & Frere-Jones, the two type designers have appeared to have a harmonious and fruitful partnership. For over a decade they were given top industry awards and granted prestigious commissions, all the while earning profitable sales from their growing family of typefaces. Yet all was not well, according to Frere-Jones's allegations.