Klim Type Foundry is an independent digital type foundry founded in 2005 by New Zealand designer Kris Sowersby. Based in Wellington, New Zealand, Klim has earned an international reputation for creating sophisticated, historically informed, and highly functional typefaces. Sowersby’s work has received multiple awards, and his fonts are widely used by designers and global brands for editorial design, branding, and digital products.
Design Philosophy & Style
Klim’s philosophy blends historical research with contemporary usability. Sowersby often revisits classic type models (from Renaissance serifs to 20th-century sans-serifs) and reinterprets them for modern contexts. Core design traits include:
- Editorial excellence – fonts optimized for books, magazines, and publishing.
- Refined sans-serifs – versatile families for branding and corporate use.
- Historical revivals reimagined for digital typography.
- Attention to detail – precise kerning, optical sizes, and variable font development.
Klim fonts are widely praised for their balance of character, clarity, and utility.
Notable Font Families
Some of Klim Type Foundry’s most recognized typefaces include:
- Calibre – A modern sans serif inspired by classic European grotesques.
- National – A humanist sans serif with a warm, approachable tone.
- Tiempos – A versatile serif family designed for editorial design.
- Söhne – A sans serif that revisits Helvetica’s heritage, with more warmth and balance.
- Maison Neue – A minimalist geometric sans serif for branding.
- Untitled Sans & Untitled Serif – Extremely neutral families designed for transparency.
Visual Preview
| Font Name | Sample Preview (The quick brown fox…) |
|---|---|
| Calibre | The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog |
| National | The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog |
| Tiempos | The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog |
| Söhne | The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog |
| Maison Neue | The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog |
Popular Pairings
- Tiempos + Calibre – Editorial serif paired with modern sans for magazine layouts.
- National + Söhne – Humanist sans paired with a neutral grotesque for branding systems.
- Maison Neue + Untitled Serif – Minimalist geometric with neutral serif for digital and corporate identity.
Premium Alternatives (Outside Klim)
- Helvetica Neue (Monotype) – Comparable to Söhne; more standardized; price $$–$$$.
- FF Meta (FontFont) – Similar to National; humanist tone with broad versatility; price $$–$$$.
- Times Modern (Commercial Type) – Alternative to Tiempos for editorial serif use; price $$–$$$.
Free Alternatives (Outside Klim)
- Work Sans (Google Fonts) – Free grotesque alternative to Calibre; functional but less refined.
- PT Serif (Google Fonts) – Free alternative to Tiempos; solid for editorial use.
- Inter (Open Source) – A free sans inspired by neutral grotesques, comparable to Söhne.
Recommendation Summary Table
| Font Family | Style | Best Use Case | Availability | Similarity Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calibre | Sans Serif | Branding, UI, editorial | Paid | 96% |
| National | Humanist Sans | Corporate, publishing | Paid | 93% |
| Tiempos | Serif | Editorial, newspapers | Paid | 95% |
| Söhne | Sans Serif | Branding, identity | Paid | 97% |
| Maison Neue | Geometric Sans | Minimalist branding | Paid | 92% |
Conclusion
Klim Type Foundry has become a leading voice in modern type design, producing fonts that are timeless, versatile, and finely crafted. From the editorial strength of Tiempos to the global popularity of Söhne and the neutrality of Untitled Sans, Klim’s catalog provides tools that blend historical respect with contemporary precision.
Typeface Similar to Font 