Today, people don't send each other handwritten letters any more.

Computer-generated letters carrying digital signatures zip anonymously through cyberspace rather than being signed, sealed and delivered by a person. This is a great loss!

The handwriting representing a writer’s state of mind, passion and personality has been replaced by state-of-the-art typefaces that reveal more about the quality of the laser printer than the writer.

At the same time, computer-generated typefaces are losing more and more detail and individuality as ‘fitting the grid’ becomes the overriding concern.
But what if you want to say something out of the ordinary, something that can't be grid-fitted? How can you deviate from the standard?
Characters gives people the means by which they can express themselves. Whether they are happy or sad, angry or in love. Or perhaps simply to reveal themselves as they are.

Characters was founded by René Verkaart, graphic designer and typographer. He’s been making his own typefaces since 1995, still being a graduate graphic design student at the Kunstacademie Maastricht. Meanwhile the portfolio contains over 35 typefaces.

All typefaces are extensively tested by carefully selected ‘BetaTesters’. This are renowned graphic design studios that test the typefaces in practice and give critical feedback to improve the final release versions.

René Verkaart is also co-founder of Stoere Binken Design, a renowned Dutch graphic design studio based in Maastricht, The Netherlands.