Adobe announced today that it has acquired Typekit Inc., provider of ready-to-go Web fonts for designers. It’s a natural fit for Adobe, which produces the industry-standard suite of design software and has a long history of producing fonts.
Typekit allows Web developers to load and display a vast range of fonts on the server side, enabling websites to go far beyond the limited range of Web-safe fonts installed on most computers. Its flexibility and easy implementation has transformed the use of type on the Web.
Adobe announced the acquisition onstage at its MAX 2011 technology conference. Typekit currently serves over 250,000 sites including The New York Times, Condé Nast and IGN.
Web fonts weren’t a sure success when Typekit launched in 2009, but its adherence to Web standards proved that compatibility with the whole range of browsers was possible. Typekit’s subscription service model also did away with the licensing issues that would have made Web fonts a logistical nightmare for most sites to implement. It has even enabled Typekit to provide a free version for Web administrators to try out. This small team has made it possible for a website of any size to implement custom typography in a matter of minutes.
From Typekit’s blog post announcing the acquisition:
If you’re one of our customers, this announcement means things will only get better. Typekit will remain a standalone product, as well as become a vital part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud. Our team will stay together, and we’re excited to start working on even easier ways to integrate web fonts into your workflow.
“Typography is a fundamental design element and something that designers want to be more creative with on websites – especially as these websites now need to be viewed on mobile devices,” Lea Hickman, vice president of product management at Adobe, said after the announcement. “Working closely with type foundries, the Typekit team has delivered an outstanding service, empowering designers to present the power of the printed word in new ways – online and on devices.”
Do you think typography is an important part of Web content?
