Originally posted almost 8 years ago by Pedro Pinto, Product
Open Foundry set out to be a fresh, creative platform showcasing open-source fonts. The idea was simple yet ambitious: present a curated collection of quality fonts with an interface that goes beyond the traditional scrolling experience found on sites like Google Fonts or FontSquirrel.
The Creative Vision
Open Foundry aimed to stand apart by leveraging modern web technologies—React components and dynamic attribute sliders—to offer an interactive, visually engaging way to explore fonts. As one commenter, Kyle Case, noted, the site is a “pretty cool example of the power of React components,” with smooth sliders that let you experiment with font attributes in real time. Another perspective, from David Darnes, highlighted that the approach was “far more interesting and creative than just scrolling through Google Fonts,” suggesting that the platform’s innovative design could offer a refreshing way to discover typography.
Usability Hurdles
However, not all feedback was glowing. Several users pointed out significant usability issues:
- Navigation Woes: Morgan Carter described the site as “holy shit what an unusable site.” He explained that trying to download a font was nearly impossible—if you scrolled too fast or at random, the interface would abruptly take you back to the homepage, leaving no straightforward way to return to the font page.
- Limited Viewing Options: There was also frustration over the inability to view fonts in multiple styles or weights, a feature many believe is essential for evaluating typography.
- Over-Creativity vs. Function: While creativity was celebrated by some, others like Kyle Decker and Terry O felt that the interface might have gone too far in its creative execution, compromising practicality for aesthetics. Terry O summed it up bluntly: “Usability > being pretty.”
The Promise of Curation
Despite these challenges, there was a shared optimism about what Open Foundry could become. Ed Adams noted that with so many open-source fonts available, a platform that not only curates the best options but also shows them in situ could prove “seriously useful.” If Open Foundry can strike a better balance between creative flair and usability, it has the potential to become an indispensable resource for designers.
Final Thoughts
Open Foundry’s ambitious attempt to reimagine how we interact with open-source fonts has sparked lively debate. Its innovative design and use of modern web techniques make it a standout concept, yet usability issues—such as erratic navigation and limited font previews—hold it back from being fully embraced. The discussion underscores an ongoing challenge in digital design: how to merge bold creativity with seamless user experience.
As the community continues to weigh the pros and cons, Open Foundry remains a noteworthy experiment in the evolution of online typography resources—one that hints at exciting possibilities if its usability can be refined.
