Markazi Text - Google Fonts

About

This typeface design was inspired by Tim Holloway's Markazi typeface, with his encouragement, and initiated by Gerry Leonidas as a joint University of Reading and Google project.

The Arabic glyphs were designed by Borna Izadpanah and design directed by Fiona Ross, they feature a moderate contrast. It takes its cues from the award-winning Markazi typeface, affording a contemporary and highly readable typeface.

The complementary Latin glyphs were designed by Florian Runge. It keeps in spirit with its Arabic counterpart, echoing key design characteristics while being rooted in established Latin traditions. It is an open and clear design with a compact stance and an evenly flowing rhythm.

The family is available in four weights with extended language support suited for print and screen.

To contribute, see github.com/BornaIz/markazitext.

Designers

Borna Izadpanah

Borna Izadpanah is a Lecturer in Typography at the University of Reading, UK, from where he was also awarded a PhD, and an MA in Typeface Design. His doctoral research explored the history of the early typographic representation of the Persian language. Borna has received numerous prestigious awards for his research and typeface design, including the Grand Prize and the First Prize for Arabic Text Typeface in the Granshan Type Design Competition, a TDC Certificate of Typographic Excellence, and the Symposia Iranica Prize for the best paper in Art History.

GitHub | Twitter

Florian Runge

Fiona Ross

Fiona Ross specializes in type design primarily for Arabic, South Asian, and Thai scripts. She works as a consultant, type designer, author, and Professor in Type Design (part-time) at the University of Reading (UK). Fiona has received the SoTA Typography Award (2014) and the Type Director’s Club Medal (2018).

Academic Profile