Any recommendations for a reputable vendor focused on Cyrillic (or generally multi-language) fonts?

I've been commissioned by a large company client to add Cyrillic to one of my more successful preexisting typefaces.
After completing that work, since they don't own exclusivity to this customization, I'll add it as an update to that family wherever my fonts are already being sold.

However, I think it could also be an opportunity to expand to other sites. I do vaguely remember I was once considering a site that was focused on selling Cyrillic or multilingual type but for the life of me can't find it now.

Do you have any recommendations for a reputable (and hopefully profitable) partner that would match this description?

Comments

  • Igor PetrovicIgor Petrovic Posts: 262
    TypeToday comes to my mind:

    https://type.today/en/about

    Also, FutureFonts prefer typefaces with non-Latin writing systems included.
  • ValKalinicValKalinic Posts: 49
    Hi Igor, thanks a lot!

    I think TypeToday is likely the one I liked but couldn't remember the name of. I will examine some more and probably be contacting them.

    However, while I like FutureFonts, it seems its concept (offering fonts that are still in progress) isn't a correct fit, as in this case the typeface already has 1300+ characters per style (all Latin based languages have guaranteed support, and now extended Cyrillic is in there too) so at this point I don't have plans for additional expansion.
  • Igor PetrovicIgor Petrovic Posts: 262
    Oh, yes you are right about FF, I overlooked the fact the typeface is finished :)

    There is one more place Local Fonts run by Stefan Peev: https://localfonts.eu/
  • Ray LarabieRay Larabie Posts: 1,376
    Paratype has a Cyrillic focused library and a Russian language storefront.
  • Contrast Foundry is young foundry based in the US and run by people who are native to Cyrillic. Many have studied at the Moscow State University for Printing Arts. Maria Doreuli, one of the CoFo founders, is a graduate from TypeMedia and organised for a long time the Cyrillicsly workshops.
  • Paul HanslowPaul Hanslow Posts: 159
    I'm sure that Vika Grabowsk doesn't have time but it's worth asking her just in case.  She did the widths extension to our Omnes Cyrillic (John Hudson did the standard width).  Viktoria is Ukrainian from Crimea and living in Poland with her husband (who is Polish).  We work with her often and have nothing but good things to say, aside from the fact she's in high demand and always busy.  That said, most people worth working with are going to have some degree of waiting time to start work.
    Having recently spoke with Vika, I second this recommendation. Her work is lovely and she was super pleasant to speak with.
  • Simon CozensSimon Cozens Posts: 724
    Katerina Korolevtseva? Oleksandra Korchevska-Tsekhosha? Valentyn Tkachenko?
  • JoyceKettererJoyceKetterer Posts: 792
    from a practical standpoint, the argument I give clients who want to expand our fonts to Cyrillic for hiring Vika instead of someone Russian is as follows:  It's hard to imagine an international market in Russian any time soon.  Therefore the expansion work should cater to diaspora sensibilities, so let's get a member of the diaspora to do it.  
  • Dyana WeissmanDyana Weissman Posts: 327
    edited May 2023
    Lots of great recommendations here. I'd also like to note Vika Vita, twins in Kyiv. https://www.instagram.com/vikatavita/ Their website is currently down (I hope they are OK). Also CSTM Fonts (Ilya is not living in Russia and has spoken in support of Ukraine) have very high-quality work: https://typenetwork.com/type-foundries/cstm-fonts ETA: But you already know them through TypeToday... 
  • Hello from Ukraine :-)
    I see that from the original question about distribution, they moved on to the recommendations of the designers :-) So back to distribution. Ukrainian project - Rentafont https://rentafont.com/
    But knowing the general practice, many local designers prefer to buy fonts on Myfonts or use Adobe offers.

  • JoyceKettererJoyceKetterer Posts: 792
    @Olexa Volochay thank you so much for weighing in.  Speaking for myself, I know nothing about distribution beyond Adobe (for any script) which is why I did't comment.  Our Omnes Cyrillic is on Adobe and it seems to get decent use, though as far as I can tell it's largely from global and international companies who want to maintain brand integrity.  That makes sense, Omnes' latin version has been very popular for more than 15 years.  
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