Fiona G.E. Ross

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Fiona G.E. Ross Dr. Fiona Ross, is a typographic consultant, typeface designer, lecturer and author, specializing in non-Latin scripts. Fiona holds a BA in German; a Postgraduate Diploma in Sanskrit and Pali; and a PhD in Indian Palaeography from SOAS (London University). From 1978 to 1989, Fiona Ross worked for the British arm of Linotype, Linotype Limited, where she was responsible for the design of their non-Latin fonts and typesetting schemes, notably those using Arabic and Indic scripts such as Devanagari. Since 1989 she has worked as a consultant, author, lecturer, and type designer. In 2003 Fiona joined the Department of Typography and Graphic Communication at the University of Reading, England as a part-time sessional lecturer on non-Latin type. Fiona Ross is the recipient of the 2014 SOTA Typography Award. In 2018, Fiona Ross received the TDC Medal. The Adobe Thai typefaces were commissioned from Tiro Typeworks and collaboratively designed by Fiona Ross, John Hudson and Tim Holloway in 2004-2005 for use with Adobe Acrobat (production by Tiro Typeworks). Vodafone Hindi (2007, with Tim Holloway and John Hudson) won an award at TDC2 2008. Co-designer with Robert Slimbach and Tim Holloway of Adobe Devanagari. Between 1978 and 1982, Tim Holloway and Fiona Ross designed Linotype Bengali based on Ross's research for her doctoral studies in Indian palaeography. In 2020, Fiona Ross and Neelakash Kshetrimayum were commissioned by Monotype to update that popular typeface, still called Linotype Bengali. In 2018, Borna Izadpanah, Fiona Ross and Florian Runge co-designed the free Google Font Markazi Text. They write: 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. Four weights are advertized at Google, but only the Regular is available. Bio at ATypI. Her books and/or essays: The printed Bengali character and its evolution (1999, Curzon Press, Richmond, UK), reviewed by John Hudson. Fiona's essay on Non-Latin Type Design at Linotype (2002). Coauthor with Robert Banham of Non-Latin Typefaces at St Bride Library, London and Department of Typography&Graphic Communication, University of Reading (2008, London: St Bride Library). Speaker at ATypI 2010 in Dublin and at ATypI 2018 in Antwerp.	EXTERNAL LINKS Fiona G.E. Ross [Designer info] Klingspor Museum page MyFonts search Monotype search Fontspring search Google search INTERNAL LINKS Type designers ⦿ Type designers ⦿ Books on type design ⦿ Bengali fonts ⦿ Thai fonts ⦿ Indic language fonts ⦿ Type design in India ⦿ Type design in the United Kingdom ⦿ Typefaces and type design for Arabic ⦿