Spain has a vibrant design culture, and its type foundries reflect a mix of Mediterranean expressiveness and functional clarity. From playful experimental fonts to versatile families used worldwide, Spanish type designers continue to gain international recognition.
Below is an overview of the country’s main hubs: Barcelona and Madrid.
Barcelona
- Emtype Foundry — Eduardo Manso’s foundry, known for contemporary families like Geogrotesque, Ciutadella, and Periódico.
- Type-Ø-Tones — Founded in 1990 by Andreu Balius and Joan Barjau, pioneering playful and experimental digital fonts.
- Andreu Balius — Independent designer producing retail and custom typefaces with strong cultural influences.
Madrid
- Letritas — Founded by Pablo Impallari and Andrés Torresi, specializing in expressive and playful typefaces.
- Compañía Tipográfica de Madrid — Collective focused on experimental projects, type research, and publishing.
- TipoType (Madrid presence) — International foundry with collaborators in Madrid, known for functional families like Laski Slab.
Closing
From Barcelona’s pioneering spirit with Emtype and Type-Ø-Tones to Madrid’s experimental collectives and international collaborations, Spain’s type scene is as diverse as its cultural heritage. Spanish foundries continue to make their mark on editorial design, branding, and digital typography worldwide.
