A curated list of digital specimens
of the highest quality. Updated daily.

screenshot of Scilla

Scilla

There are many tihngs that users want that are not in this specimen: a list of glyphs, a type tester, features, language support. But, there are many specimens that don't deliver on what this one for Scilla does: beautifully typeset typographic illustrations demonstrating the beauty of the letterforms.

Published on 04 Feb 2021
screenshot of Garton

Garton

Derived from an old letter from Garton Brewery, Bristol, Garton is a typerwriter-inspired monospace from Colophon. The specimen has a couple of notable features: the animated typewriter style example, and the great copywriting.

Published on 04 Feb 2021
screenshot of Aerobik

Aerobik

A fairly standard looking specimen for a quirky typeface. The sense of humour is evident throughout, though, and works really well. I can't quite understand the replacement cursor illustration – but I like it!

Published on 04 Feb 2021
screenshot of Basel

Basel

Optimo's specimens work really well and present their typefaces in a functional, yet pleasing, way. What works particularly well is the stack of preset typetesters, each with slightly different content.

Published on 03 Feb 2021
screenshot of Resonay

Resonay

A really detailed one-page specimen for Resonay from Typemates. I may have outlined this specimen design before, but it works really well. Particularly as you move further down the page to how the opentype features and licensing information is displayed.

Published on 02 Feb 2021
screenshot of Build

Build

Another brilliant specimen from Extraset building on their previous designs featured here. The new typeface, build, has various states of design, so this specimen is about walking the user through those states whilst transporting them with a Bauhaus style of content and photography. Really effective specimen, both functionally and aesthetically.,

Published on 02 Feb 2021
screenshot of MFred

MFred

A solid looking specimen for a solid looking typeface from Buy Fonts Save Lives. Simple, designed panels in two colours precede some stacked type testers. All the basics, very well done.

Published on 28 Jan 2021
screenshot of News Serif

News Serif

NewsSerif was built for editorial and all typographic challenges – analogue or digital. A really useful specimen. Opening with a type tester, but then screen after screen of large example designs showing News Serif in context.

Published on 26 Jan 2021
screenshot of Marionette

Marionette

These single sheet specimens from Nick Sherman's foundry, Hex, are very effecitve. Multiple stacked panels of justified paragraphs are reminiscent of old single sheet printer's specimens.

Published on 26 Jan 2021
screenshot of Clarette

Clarette

Striking, but a bit perplexing, use of photography in the specimen. But the design certainly paints a picture of inspiration and possible intended usage. However, I find myself wanting to see more web fonts rather than lots of stacked svgs.

Published on 25 Jan 2021
screenshot of Grammato — Future is written

Grammato — Future is written

Not really a specimen. Not really a product page. More like a technology, or a service? Regardless, this page for Grammato is an interesting approach to displaying an interesting and complex problem being solved through type.

Published on 25 Jan 2021
screenshot of BC Baseliner

BC Baseliner

Ok, the specimen for this may be just one big svg but the design delivers on its purpose: to make you sit up and think 'hmmm, that's a cool typeface'. Sometimes that's all it needs.

Published on 25 Jan 2021
screenshot of Fit

Fit

FIT is a hyper-stylized series of caps designed with one thing in mind: filling up space with maximum impact. As a variable font with extremes of weights, from the super condensed, to the very, very wide, the specimen for FIT displays this perfectly. Stacked panels of text with anchor controls to stretch them. Brilliant.

Published on 25 Jan 2021
screenshot of Fabrikat Kompakt

Fabrikat Kompakt

A functional specimen from HvD Fonts for Fabrikat Kompakt but notable because of the opening branding/illustration. Clean, simple, graphical lines present the typeface in simple juxtaposition. Another nice touch is the long-form feature explanation with toggles to see the difference.

Published on 14 Jan 2021
screenshot of Huai

Huai

This templated specimen from Positype is notable for the glyph table. In particular, I felt the preview of the glyphs – which are shown on click – display that choice in the context of other glyphs either side and simple cap height, x-height and baseline metrics.

Published on 14 Jan 2021
screenshot of Q font family

Q font family

Not sure where to start with this type tester for Q. Type tester is probably the wrong term anyway. 'Constructor' is probably more apt. The interface allows you to explore the various Lego-like build variables for the letterforms.

Published on 14 Jan 2021
screenshot of Arteria

Arteria

This microsite for Arteria is full featured and sprinkled with witty, graphical moments. Subtle animations of interface elements add to the soecimen's appeal. But don't be fooled; this is a serious typeface for broad application.

Published on 12 Jan 2021
screenshot of League Gothic Italic

League Gothic Italic

A bold, full screen type tester opens this specimen from Open Foundry before some equally large and bold illustrations.

Published on 11 Jan 2021
screenshot of Syncro

Syncro

Out of the Dark's specimens are really unusual. Pretty great, too. The specimen is notable for the very large type, and excellent design-in-use examples. The unusual interface element is the typesetter carousel, moving through different pangram, sentences and settings of the typeface.

Published on 11 Jan 2021
screenshot of Gimlet X-Ray

Gimlet X-Ray

An interesting specimen for Gimlet X-Ray. Huge type filling the screen from top to bottom with a few controls to customise the output from variable widths, to stroke colours, and the on-off curve points.

Published on 11 Jan 2021
screenshot of Pachinko

Pachinko

Panchinko is a lovely mono with a delightful italic. The specimen is a comprehensive, with some introductory type testers before moving into lengthy design notes, features and examples.

Published on 21 Dec 2020
screenshot of Etna

Etna

A new typeface from Mark Simonson, Etna is a reinterpretation of a genre of typefaces from the 19th century. The specimen is clever. Featuring three stacked carousels, the overall design is that of switching states of a newspaper layout.

Published on 18 Dec 2020
screenshot of Tomato Grotesk

Tomato Grotesk

This specimen from The Designers Foundry for Tomato Grotesk has a really great type tester and opens with an example showing the whole design space.

Published on 17 Dec 2020
screenshot of Whirly Birdie

Whirly Birdie

This is a really fun specimen. Whirly Birdie is a display typeface inspired by 1950's American advertising.That aesthetic inspires some excellent illustration style with some feature rich interactive UI elements. The animated icons are particularly interesting.

Published on 13 Dec 2020