Type Foundry Directory is an index of type foundries organized to help demystify font licensing and make searching for type easier.
Founded in 2018 by Matthew Smith of Morning Type, the directory is an independently researched and operated endeavor which primarily focuses on active, independent type designers and foundries.
I often refer to the directory as curated, but more specifically it is biased, opinionated, and flawed. Admittedly, so are my favorite lists of restaurants, movies, and musicians.
Despite how detailed the directory is, this is not an encyclopedic effort. In the same way that I wouldn’t include fast food chains in my list of recommended restaurants in Brooklyn—I’m not interested in including monolithic, private equity-backed foundries or their henchmen.
But if you are interested in the how and why certain information is tracked, I have documented all of my methodologies to the best of my ability.
Nameplate sponsors
From research to development to maintenance, the directory has largely been an independent effort. Sponsored nameplates were introduced in 2025 to help provide financial backing which allows me to allocate time, effort, and external resources to future developments.
What’s new & what’s next
There have been three major iterations of the directory to date. The work between each iteration has largely happened behind the scenes. Mostly because this is a one-person operation, and progress is typically slow and inconsistent. In an effort to be more transparent and let users influence the future of the directory, I’ve started a roadmap.
Additional Resources
This is not the only directory of its kind, it certainly wasn’t the first, and it hopefully won’t be the last. There are a ton of great resources on type and the industry, so if this directory doesn’t fit your needs, maybe one of these will. And if they don’t, I would encourage you to start your own! I strongly believe we need more independently organized and opinionated lists, and would be happy to help in anyway I can.
A collection of similar type foundry directories, indexes, and other type related lists.
An public archive of typography indexed by typeface, format, industry, and period.
The directory’s font search companion.
The largest independent directory of digital fonts on the Internet, with a number of unique tools for locating fonts for particular applications.
Mapping the current and ever-changing landscape of independent typography.
An online index for type foundries and font sellers showcasing their collections of type.
A digital bookshelf of type and lettering resources, brought to you by Typographica. The directory of Specimen Books of Metal & Wood Type is incredible.
Submissions
Thank you for your interst in submitting a foundry! I am constantly on the lookout for new foundries, and documenting all of their associated data can be very time consuming. So I really appreciate you helping make my job easier! Please note that a submission does not guarantee a feature.
Colophon
Fonts in use
- Replace Sans by Morning Type, the sans companion to Replace Serif—a reinterpretation of Times New Roman (4 ½ pt sample).
Website
- Designed & developed by Morning Type
Storage
- The database is maintained through Airtable
Transparency
- For more financial and technical transparency, take a peek behind the curtain.
Get in touch
Ready to sponsor a nameplate, have a question, or want to leave a glowing review? You can write to me directly at matthew@morningtype.com. For submissions, kindly fill out the submission form.