Figma Hand

Figma approached us with the idea to add a handwriting font to FigJam—Figma’s whiteboarding app that has become a powerful tool for collaboration for designers and non-designers alike. The design team at Figma was looking to add a natural touch to both the product, and its marketing. We explored all sorts of handwriting, took samples from everyone on the project, and landed on something casual and quick. It’s sometimes connected, and always natural. The resulting family is two weights, and includes some fun OpenType features for a more effortless look.

Completed

2024

Client

Figma

Creative Direction

Damien Correll

Deliverable

Custom Type

Sketches — We began with sketching out our own handwriting, and looking at the effects of writing speed on legibility.

First digital Version — The first digital version was a bit too light, and a bit too hard to read.

Reference — We pulled other references from the design team at Figma, and ultimately combined this influence with our sketches…

The direction — …to arrive at something of an amalgamation of many folks’ handwriting.

Cursive attachment — We experimented with OpenTypes’ “Cursive Attachment” feature which allows for a sort of vertical kerning—minor adjustments made to the baseline of individual glyphs to preserve connections between glyphs with crossbars, and glyphs that begin at the x-height. In plain-speak: smoother connections. Top: without cursive attachment. Bottom: with cursive attachment.

Ligatures — We also added in a few ligatures and alternates for a more human feel.

Stickies — The final family consisted of a Regular and a Bold.

Figma Website 01 — The fonts in use in FigJam. Image Courtesy of Figma.

Figma Website 02 — The fonts in use in FigJam. Image Courtesy of Figma.

Figma Website 03 — The fonts in use in FigJam. Image Courtesy of Figma.