In September 2024, ROHH Type was invited to Amsterdam to participate in the first-ever Monotype Foundry Business Summit. Being selected as one of 45 independent type foundries globally to join this event was a proud moment for our studio.

Navigating the Independent Type Foundry Business

Hosted by Monotype, the summit was built specifically around the commercial side of typography. When you run an independent type foundry, drawing the letters is only one piece of the puzzle. The rest of the job requires building a sustainable business architecture to support that design work.

During the two-day event, we sat down with Monotype leadership and other foundry owners to discuss exactly that. The conversations focused heavily on current industry shifts, specifically font licensing for independent foundries and how the expansion of subscription models impacts our operations. We talked directly about the mechanics of selling fonts online, protecting creative IP, and ensuring that independent studios have a viable path to grow in a shifting digital landscape.

Connecting with the Global Typography Community

One of the most valuable sides of the trip was sharing a room with peers. Operating a studio out of Kraków often means solving complex licensing and technical problems in isolation. Having the opportunity to talk face-to-face with other designers who are managing the exact same business challenges was incredibly grounding and productive.

We left Amsterdam with a sharp perspective on the future of the typography market and a clear focus on how we want to expand our catalog. We are very grateful to the lovely Monotype team for the invitation and for organizing an event that prioritizes the practical, operational needs of independent foundries.

Below is a short video recap from the summit, alongside a few photos from our time in Amsterdam.

If you want to see the typographic systems that led to our invitation, you can browse our complete library of retail fonts on rohhtype.com, or read about our direct approach to custom font licensing for brands and agencies.