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

screenshot of Diode Type System

Diode Type System

A strange font with a strange, exploratory digital specimen. Unfortunately, as we see quite often, the print specimen PDF is full of examples and striking design with accompanying editorial. The digital specimen, in contrast, falls a bit flat.

Published on 08 Oct 2020
screenshot of Quarz

Quarz

Quarz's specimen follows the structure of the other Extraset specimens, with an interesting mixture of designed panels and animations. The blend of associated photography is a strong design choice, but the functionality offered below is second to none. Excellent type tester and glyph set.

Published on 07 Oct 2020
screenshot of TT Ramilla

TT Ramilla

Excellent type testers from TypeType for this specimen for Ramilla. Notable for its inclusion of multi-lingual defined paragraphs.

Published on 07 Oct 2020
screenshot of Service Gothic

Service Gothic

This specimen from Service Gothic from Hex is a refreshing design. Presented as a single page – almost like a poster design – it is a full page poster with type set at various weights and sizes with controls at the top. Showing so much type in a type tester really helps in conveying the changes made to the weight axis.

Published on 06 Oct 2020
screenshot of Arkitekt

Arkitekt

Super simple specimen from Aesthetic Type for their latest release, Arkitekt. A list of type testers, some long form design information, and a clear call to action to buy some licenses

Published on 06 Oct 2020
screenshot of Futura Now

Futura Now

This specimen from Monotype is like many of the recent specimens from the Studio's releases: templated, and fronted by a bespoke marketing video. One interesting additions, though. The type tester has state changes on resizing the text. As a user moves down the sizes, the names – and associated ranges – change, as does the content of the tester. Nifty.

Published on 06 Oct 2020
screenshot of LD GENZSCH ANTIQUA

LD GENZSCH ANTIQUA

A simple specimen that is basically one big typetester and a list of weights set side by side with a lengnthy piece about the design. SImple, but effective.

Published on 02 Oct 2020
screenshot of La Pontaise

La Pontaise

This specimen takes user configurable options to a whole new level. Presenting vertically stacked canvases, with pre-designed settings in each, the specimen allows the user to interact with every element of type. Not only that, they can make small design changes such as alignment, spacing, multicolumns, and even adding images.

Published on 01 Oct 2020
screenshot of Martha

Martha

Wonderful specimen for code font, Martha from Coppers and Brasses. Excellent graphic design and imagery underpin a structurally sound digital specimen. Stacked type testers punctuated by bright, distinctive graphics.

Published on 01 Oct 2020
screenshot of Baryton

Baryton

A stylistic specimen that neatly combines sympathetic illustration to the sutble forms of Baryton. Great art direction.

Published on 01 Oct 2020
screenshot of Munken Sans

Munken Sans

There is much to admire in this specimen for Munken Sans. It hits all the right points for usability, design inspiration, and marketing the features. The use of video and photography is a welcome addition.

Published on 01 Oct 2020
screenshot of Patufet Mono font

Patufet Mono font

Simple and effective specimen from Type Republic for Patufet Mono. We continue to see this welcome design pattern for disclosing type tester controls when a user intercats with a body of text.

Published on 29 Sep 2020
screenshot of Piazzolla

Piazzolla

So much detail in this specimen. From the long-form editorial, to the different interactive panels. One of these really stood out: the highlights panel. Here, we have on display a grid of selected glyphs for the user. Useful.

Published on 29 Sep 2020
screenshot of BC Retroduktor

BC Retroduktor

The opening screen of this specimen is striking. A stacked selection of svg graphics show the typeface in various graphics. The rest of the specimen – behind sub navigation – allows the user to sample the typeface as well as a complete glyph table.

Published on 28 Sep 2020
screenshot of Redaction

Redaction

A specimen that takes cursor-jacking to a whole new level! There is much to enjoy in this specimen and, for those who are old enough, you may be reminded of early 2000s web design where experimentation, play, and expression were still high on the medium's agenda.

Published on 25 Sep 2020
screenshot of Foundry Tiento

Foundry Tiento

A subtle, simple and usable specimen for Tiento. It delivers on the basics, but being such a simple design, there is an elegance there that matches the typeface beautifully.

Published on 24 Sep 2020
screenshot of ( KOMETA ) Victor Serif

( KOMETA ) Victor Serif

Another interesting specimen from Kometa. Notable for it's use of vintage photography combined with starkly contrasting and large type, the specimen moves onto stacked settings that build on the idea of paying homage to the ubiquitous icon of newspaper type.

Published on 24 Sep 2020
screenshot of Literata

Literata

Typetogether's specimens are always so detailed, full of useful and detailed information. This specimen for Literata doesn't disappoint. The specimens as type testers work particularly well since they only reveal their controls when a user interacts with them keeping the overall appearance clean and uncluttered with UI controls.

Published on 23 Sep 2020
screenshot of La Nord

La Nord

A simple specimen for an interesting typeface. The typeface has some unsettling attributes – the lower case a, the cap M. When set in a paragraph, it gives this uneasy feeling. One has to wonder why that aesthetic wasn't carried through to the specimen. Regardless, this specimen does the job.

Published on 23 Sep 2020
screenshot of Carabelle

Carabelle

This specimen for Carabelle is a delight. Beautiful illustrations and example designs are stacked around the most simple but effectvie test tester. It would be useful to see some details such as a glyph table and specifics for the alternates and language support instead of indicative illustrations.

Published on 22 Sep 2020
screenshot of Aniuk

Aniuk

Aniuk is, as the specimen says, a 'pretty cool typeface'. As is the specimen. The user is invited to scroll through several designed panels in a simple monotone colour palette. The opentype feature illustration works particularly well.

Published on 22 Sep 2020
screenshot of Post Sans

Post Sans

This is a case study for some custom type, but shows how close to a specimen it could be. Excellent design throughout, with engaging content and examples of use.

Published on 22 Sep 2020
screenshot of Maxi

Maxi

Where to start with this from DINAMO!? Brilliantly concieved variable typeface. Or playful, bold specimen. Or maybe a colour palette designed to challenge your eyeballs. Refreshing. Brilliant.

Published on 22 Sep 2020
screenshot of Atyp BL

Atyp BL

A traditional format for this specimen for Atyp BL. Starting with stacked words (in svgs, not web fonts) with navigable sections of the specimen to try the various styles with a type tester, download trial fonts, and a PDF specimen.

Published on 22 Sep 2020