Episode 231 - How to Choose and License Typefaces (Fonts) with Jen Wagner
Jul 24, 2024
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Jen Wagner, a talented type designer, discusses font pairings, licensing, and the importance of high-quality typefaces in design projects. She shares insights on font licensing models, the evolution of favorite designs, and challenges in social media content creation.
Jen Wagner emphasizes the significance of context-based font licensing for maintaining quality in design projects.
Jen draws inspiration from nature and architecture to evolve her font design approach.
Deep dives
Font Designer Jen Wagner's Approach to Type Design
Jen Wagner, an independent Nashville-based type designer, is known for her authentic and candid approach to type design and business. With nearly a decade of experience, her typefaces resonate deeply with designers of all skill levels. Jen discusses the basics of font pairings, choosing the right type for projects, and different licensing situations in the episode.
Jen Wagner's Journey into Type Design
Despite not having a design background, Jen ventured into type design through self-teaching after initially studying marketing. Her journey involved a transition into freelance work, struggles with finding stability, and a pivotal moment where she discovered a plugin that streamlined font creation, leading to her success in type design.
Font Design Inspiration and Evolution
Jen draws font design inspiration from various sources like nature, architecture, and design needs from her projects. She discusses how developing her skills through specialized programs transformed her work and led to the evolution of her font design approach. Jen's continuous learning and adaptation reflect the growth and versatility of her designs.
Understanding Font Licensing with Jen Wagner
Jen emphasizes the importance of context-based font licensing, which aligns with specific usage needs such as desktop, web, EPUB, apps, and templates. She highlights the necessity of clarity in font licensing to maintain quality and consistency in design projects. By offering template licenses, Jen enhances the accessibility and usability of her fonts for designers.
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with type designer Jen Wagner.
Jen is one of the most talented type designers around and not only do we use one of her fonts on our own site, we’ve also licensed several of her fonts for our templates.