URW Type Foundry

URW (Unternehmensberatung Rubow Weber) Type Foundry is a Hamburg-based German company that has played a crucial role in the digital typography revolution. Founded in 1972, URW pioneered computer-aided type design and font digitization.

History

URW was instrumental in bringing classic metal typefaces into the digital age. The company developed innovative font technology and created digital versions of many historic typefaces, making them accessible to designers worldwide.

Futura Legacy

URW holds the rights to one of the most influential typefaces ever created: Futura. Originally designed by Paul Renner in 1927, Futura embodies the Bauhaus design philosophy with its geometric forms and modernist aesthetic.

Technical Innovation

Beyond type design, URW has contributed significantly to font technology:

• Pioneered digital font production methods
• Developed font scaling and hinting techniques
• Created tools for font design and production

Font Library

URW's library includes both digitized classics and original contemporary designs. Their fonts are known for quality craftsmanship and faithful reproduction of historical designs.