Mass-Driver
@mass-driver.com
Independent foundry based in The Hague. We make typefaces that are sensitive to the past, but designed for the present.
https://mass-driver.com
Posts by Rutherford Craze, [type]founder.
https://mass-driver.com
Posts by Rutherford Craze, [type]founder.
Available now: MD Thermochrome v0.4 adds over 100 new icons to the typeface, all of which respond to weight and italic angle just like every other glyph. Legibility not guaranteed
www.futurefonts.com/mass-driver/...
www.futurefonts.com/mass-driver/...
November 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Available now: MD Thermochrome v0.4 adds over 100 new icons to the typeface, all of which respond to weight and italic angle just like every other glyph. Legibility not guaranteed
www.futurefonts.com/mass-driver/...
www.futurefonts.com/mass-driver/...
The v0.4 update for MD Thermochrome is finally ready, and it’ll ship later today!
This version of the typeface includes 100+ new icons for UI design, wayfinding, and more.
There’s a few more hours to get it at the current price, with lifetime updates included:
www.futurefonts.com/mass-driver/...
This version of the typeface includes 100+ new icons for UI design, wayfinding, and more.
There’s a few more hours to get it at the current price, with lifetime updates included:
www.futurefonts.com/mass-driver/...
November 17, 2025 at 11:20 AM
The v0.4 update for MD Thermochrome is finally ready, and it’ll ship later today!
This version of the typeface includes 100+ new icons for UI design, wayfinding, and more.
There’s a few more hours to get it at the current price, with lifetime updates included:
www.futurefonts.com/mass-driver/...
This version of the typeface includes 100+ new icons for UI design, wayfinding, and more.
There’s a few more hours to get it at the current price, with lifetime updates included:
www.futurefonts.com/mass-driver/...
These icons have been a surprisingly common request, and, less surprisingly, a tricky challenge.
The workflow I came up with involves sketching using rectangular pixels in @aseprite.org, and some custom tooling in @glyphsapp.com to snap everything to the typeface’s grid.
The workflow I came up with involves sketching using rectangular pixels in @aseprite.org, and some custom tooling in @glyphsapp.com to snap everything to the typeface’s grid.
October 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
These icons have been a surprisingly common request, and, less surprisingly, a tricky challenge.
The workflow I came up with involves sketching using rectangular pixels in @aseprite.org, and some custom tooling in @glyphsapp.com to snap everything to the typeface’s grid.
The workflow I came up with involves sketching using rectangular pixels in @aseprite.org, and some custom tooling in @glyphsapp.com to snap everything to the typeface’s grid.
Made the call last week to push our late 2025 release to early 2026. The delay might be disappointing, but I feel extremely fortunate that we can take as much time as this project needs.
In the meantime, here’s a preview of something else I’ve been working on: MD Thermochrome icons
In the meantime, here’s a preview of something else I’ve been working on: MD Thermochrome icons
October 29, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Made the call last week to push our late 2025 release to early 2026. The delay might be disappointing, but I feel extremely fortunate that we can take as much time as this project needs.
In the meantime, here’s a preview of something else I’ve been working on: MD Thermochrome icons
In the meantime, here’s a preview of something else I’ve been working on: MD Thermochrome icons
A small update: if you’re buying fonts via our website, there’s now an option to apply a 50% student discount without needing to contact us.
(You can always use our trial fonts in class without paying anything — this is only for commercial projects, published websites, etc.)
mass-driver.com
(You can always use our trial fonts in class without paying anything — this is only for commercial projects, published websites, etc.)
mass-driver.com
October 7, 2025 at 9:56 AM
A small update: if you’re buying fonts via our website, there’s now an option to apply a 50% student discount without needing to contact us.
(You can always use our trial fonts in class without paying anything — this is only for commercial projects, published websites, etc.)
mass-driver.com
(You can always use our trial fonts in class without paying anything — this is only for commercial projects, published websites, etc.)
mass-driver.com
Super nice example of MD Nichrome in use, by Malcontenti Studio for Yatasto, a bar/pizzeria in Buenos Aires.
(I love seeing projects like this!)
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/71993/y...
(I love seeing projects like this!)
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/71993/y...
September 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Super nice example of MD Nichrome in use, by Malcontenti Studio for Yatasto, a bar/pizzeria in Buenos Aires.
(I love seeing projects like this!)
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/71993/y...
(I love seeing projects like this!)
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/71993/y...
For years, @matthewsmith.website’s typefoundry.directory has been my favourite place to discover new, independent type foundries.
This summer Matthew released a huge update to the site, and also (finally!) let me support his efforts with a sponsorship — this month, the nameplate is set in MD Lórien
This summer Matthew released a huge update to the site, and also (finally!) let me support his efforts with a sponsorship — this month, the nameplate is set in MD Lórien
September 3, 2025 at 10:01 AM
For years, @matthewsmith.website’s typefoundry.directory has been my favourite place to discover new, independent type foundries.
This summer Matthew released a huge update to the site, and also (finally!) let me support his efforts with a sponsorship — this month, the nameplate is set in MD Lórien
This summer Matthew released a huge update to the site, and also (finally!) let me support his efforts with a sponsorship — this month, the nameplate is set in MD Lórien
About a month ago this arrived at the studio, and I *adore* it.
Long Way Home is a book on the work of Belarusian artist Masha Maroz. Its titles are set in MD Thermochrome, which doesn’t (yet) support Cyrillic — so the designers made their own.
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/69970/l...
Long Way Home is a book on the work of Belarusian artist Masha Maroz. Its titles are set in MD Thermochrome, which doesn’t (yet) support Cyrillic — so the designers made their own.
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/69970/l...
August 14, 2025 at 8:31 AM
About a month ago this arrived at the studio, and I *adore* it.
Long Way Home is a book on the work of Belarusian artist Masha Maroz. Its titles are set in MD Thermochrome, which doesn’t (yet) support Cyrillic — so the designers made their own.
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/69970/l...
Long Way Home is a book on the work of Belarusian artist Masha Maroz. Its titles are set in MD Thermochrome, which doesn’t (yet) support Cyrillic — so the designers made their own.
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/69970/l...
Take Back Mokum: a collection of essays, interviews, illustrations and more, around the theme of squatting and housing in Amsterdam.
The first (& I hope not the last!) book set in my typeface, MD Lórien.
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/67027/t...
Typeface: mass-driver.com/typefaces/md...
The first (& I hope not the last!) book set in my typeface, MD Lórien.
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/67027/t...
Typeface: mass-driver.com/typefaces/md...
July 9, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Take Back Mokum: a collection of essays, interviews, illustrations and more, around the theme of squatting and housing in Amsterdam.
The first (& I hope not the last!) book set in my typeface, MD Lórien.
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/67027/t...
Typeface: mass-driver.com/typefaces/md...
The first (& I hope not the last!) book set in my typeface, MD Lórien.
Via @fontsinuse.com: fontsinuse.com/uses/67027/t...
Typeface: mass-driver.com/typefaces/md...
July 3, 2025 at 11:12 AM
MD Thermochrome v0.3 is now available! This update adds 33 new styles, for a total of 40 — including a new Medium weight and 4 sets of italics.
(Also included are arrows, super & subscript, and a fractions OpenType feature)
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
(Also included are arrows, super & subscript, and a fractions OpenType feature)
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
June 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
MD Thermochrome v0.3 is now available! This update adds 33 new styles, for a total of 40 — including a new Medium weight and 4 sets of italics.
(Also included are arrows, super & subscript, and a fractions OpenType feature)
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
(Also included are arrows, super & subscript, and a fractions OpenType feature)
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
The next update to MD Thermochrome will be out tomorrow, adding 33 (!) new styles: a new Medium weight, plus 4 sets of italics.
As always with Future Fonts releases, the price will increase for new buyers, but existing customers get all updates for free
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
As always with Future Fonts releases, the price will increase for new buyers, but existing customers get all updates for free
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
June 24, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The next update to MD Thermochrome will be out tomorrow, adding 33 (!) new styles: a new Medium weight, plus 4 sets of italics.
As always with Future Fonts releases, the price will increase for new buyers, but existing customers get all updates for free
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
As always with Future Fonts releases, the price will increase for new buyers, but existing customers get all updates for free
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
Nevertheless, there are still a lot of questions about exactly how the new model will work — people care a lot about where (and how) they get their fonts.
Reader, just this once, I would ask you to complete a survey.
fontstand.com/survey (~15 mins)
Reader, just this once, I would ask you to complete a survey.
fontstand.com/survey (~15 mins)
June 12, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Nevertheless, there are still a lot of questions about exactly how the new model will work — people care a lot about where (and how) they get their fonts.
Reader, just this once, I would ask you to complete a survey.
fontstand.com/survey (~15 mins)
Reader, just this once, I would ask you to complete a survey.
fontstand.com/survey (~15 mins)
Unless the creator makes them public domain, all fonts are subject to a license of some kind.
With free fonts, that’s often a very permissive, do-what-you-want license. For other fonts, you pay the designer for the right to use it under specific terms — they still own it, but you can use it.
With free fonts, that’s often a very permissive, do-what-you-want license. For other fonts, you pay the designer for the right to use it under specific terms — they still own it, but you can use it.
June 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Unless the creator makes them public domain, all fonts are subject to a license of some kind.
With free fonts, that’s often a very permissive, do-what-you-want license. For other fonts, you pay the designer for the right to use it under specific terms — they still own it, but you can use it.
With free fonts, that’s often a very permissive, do-what-you-want license. For other fonts, you pay the designer for the right to use it under specific terms — they still own it, but you can use it.
Nowadays, a font is a piece of software. It contains instructions for a computer to draw the letters and symbols (‘glyphs’) of a typeface, along with a lot of other data.
Often a font contains only one variant of a typeface, but fonts containing multiple variants are increasingly common.
Often a font contains only one variant of a typeface, but fonts containing multiple variants are increasingly common.
June 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Nowadays, a font is a piece of software. It contains instructions for a computer to draw the letters and symbols (‘glyphs’) of a typeface, along with a lot of other data.
Often a font contains only one variant of a typeface, but fonts containing multiple variants are increasingly common.
Often a font contains only one variant of a typeface, but fonts containing multiple variants are increasingly common.
A font is the technology that allows a typeface to be used.
Historically, this was movable type: a set of individual pieces (‘sorts’), usually made of metal, assembled into lines of text. With movable type, every size, weight and other variant of a typeface needed a separate font.
Historically, this was movable type: a set of individual pieces (‘sorts’), usually made of metal, assembled into lines of text. With movable type, every size, weight and other variant of a typeface needed a separate font.
June 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A font is the technology that allows a typeface to be used.
Historically, this was movable type: a set of individual pieces (‘sorts’), usually made of metal, assembled into lines of text. With movable type, every size, weight and other variant of a typeface needed a separate font.
Historically, this was movable type: a set of individual pieces (‘sorts’), usually made of metal, assembled into lines of text. With movable type, every size, weight and other variant of a typeface needed a separate font.
A typeface is a specific design for a set of letters, numbers, symbols, and so on.
Often, that design includes variations, like bold and italics, different widths, or even radically different styles. If these styles all share a name, they’re one typeface.
Often, that design includes variations, like bold and italics, different widths, or even radically different styles. If these styles all share a name, they’re one typeface.
June 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A typeface is a specific design for a set of letters, numbers, symbols, and so on.
Often, that design includes variations, like bold and italics, different widths, or even radically different styles. If these styles all share a name, they’re one typeface.
Often, that design includes variations, like bold and italics, different widths, or even radically different styles. If these styles all share a name, they’re one typeface.
Here’s how they fit together, in the most straightforward terms: a typeface is what you see, a font is what you use, and a license is what you pay for.
June 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Here’s how they fit together, in the most straightforward terms: a typeface is what you see, a font is what you use, and a license is what you pay for.
Maybe you’ve heard: every font is free! Since fonts aren’t subject to copyright, you can legally ‘pirate’ them if you use a specific loophole!
...except that’s not really true. I’ve seen this claim repeated quite a lot recently, and it’s missing some pretty important nuance.
🧵 A thread:
...except that’s not really true. I’ve seen this claim repeated quite a lot recently, and it’s missing some pretty important nuance.
🧵 A thread:
June 5, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Maybe you’ve heard: every font is free! Since fonts aren’t subject to copyright, you can legally ‘pirate’ them if you use a specific loophole!
...except that’s not really true. I’ve seen this claim repeated quite a lot recently, and it’s missing some pretty important nuance.
🧵 A thread:
...except that’s not really true. I’ve seen this claim repeated quite a lot recently, and it’s missing some pretty important nuance.
🧵 A thread:
Via @fontsinuse.com: MD Nichrome in use for Révéler l’impact, an exhibition on the impacts of mining and mineral extraction.
More info: fontsinuse.com/uses/68263/r...
Typeface: mass-driver.com/typefaces/md...
More info: fontsinuse.com/uses/68263/r...
Typeface: mass-driver.com/typefaces/md...
June 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Via @fontsinuse.com: MD Nichrome in use for Révéler l’impact, an exhibition on the impacts of mining and mineral extraction.
More info: fontsinuse.com/uses/68263/r...
Typeface: mass-driver.com/typefaces/md...
More info: fontsinuse.com/uses/68263/r...
Typeface: mass-driver.com/typefaces/md...
Back in 2023, we made a custom typeface for Bonnaroo festival — MD Bonnachrome is still front and centre for the 2025 event (and I’m still getting excited every time a new poster drops).
The case study: mass-driver.com/custom/bonna...
The festival: www.bonnaroo.com
The case study: mass-driver.com/custom/bonna...
The festival: www.bonnaroo.com
May 21, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Back in 2023, we made a custom typeface for Bonnaroo festival — MD Bonnachrome is still front and centre for the 2025 event (and I’m still getting excited every time a new poster drops).
The case study: mass-driver.com/custom/bonna...
The festival: www.bonnaroo.com
The case study: mass-driver.com/custom/bonna...
The festival: www.bonnaroo.com
I’m really happy to see MD Lórien used for Robin Sloan’s recent zine, The Secret Playbook (on strategies for artists to counter AI models) — and in great company, next to DJR’s exceptional Clavichord!
www.robinsloan.com/newsletters/...
www.robinsloan.com/newsletters/...
May 19, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I’m really happy to see MD Lórien used for Robin Sloan’s recent zine, The Secret Playbook (on strategies for artists to counter AI models) — and in great company, next to DJR’s exceptional Clavichord!
www.robinsloan.com/newsletters/...
www.robinsloan.com/newsletters/...
“Awake, brave Knight, for the Dawn comes not!”
—
O Knight of Many Stars
Cartridge design & custom lettering for the 2025 My Famicase Exhibition at METEOR, Tokyo. #famicase
—
O Knight of Many Stars
Cartridge design & custom lettering for the 2025 My Famicase Exhibition at METEOR, Tokyo. #famicase
April 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
“Awake, brave Knight, for the Dawn comes not!”
—
O Knight of Many Stars
Cartridge design & custom lettering for the 2025 My Famicase Exhibition at METEOR, Tokyo. #famicase
—
O Knight of Many Stars
Cartridge design & custom lettering for the 2025 My Famicase Exhibition at METEOR, Tokyo. #famicase
MD Thermochrome version 0.2 is now available!
This is a pretty big update, with 6 new weights (i.e. 600% more than v0.1), all of them duplexed to allow for various stacking and layering effects. Also a variable font, and slightly better language support.
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
This is a pretty big update, with 6 new weights (i.e. 600% more than v0.1), all of them duplexed to allow for various stacking and layering effects. Also a variable font, and slightly better language support.
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
April 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
MD Thermochrome version 0.2 is now available!
This is a pretty big update, with 6 new weights (i.e. 600% more than v0.1), all of them duplexed to allow for various stacking and layering effects. Also a variable font, and slightly better language support.
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...
This is a pretty big update, with 6 new weights (i.e. 600% more than v0.1), all of them duplexed to allow for various stacking and layering effects. Also a variable font, and slightly better language support.
www.future-fonts.com/mass-driver/...