Ballast packs a punch

Ben Kiel’s new typeface Ballast is here, hot on the heels of the release of Cedar. Version 0.1 of both typefaces are available exclusively from Future Fonts. Ballast’s strong but playful voice comes from a unique strategy to shift weight into balance while maintaining tight clearances. Bulky shapes pack into spaces carved out of other strokes, creating curled counterforms that provide a diversion from the monotonous rhythm of slab serifs.

Future Fonts gives you early access to fonts that are still in development. If you buy Ballast version 0.1 (for $15), you will immediately receive one weight with a limited character set. As the family matures in development, you’ll be entitled to free updates (while the price goes up for everyone else).

The first 20 customers to license Ballast will receive SF NM, a zine designed with the typeface by our friends at Work/Play for this release and Risograph-printed in a limited edition of 35.
► See more of Ballast on Future Fonts

Ballast began as a revival of Schelter & Giesecke’s typeface Egyptienne, originally released around 1880. The typeface was molded into something entirely original through a series of custom design requests from clients.
► Read more in Ben’s first journal post

Don’t forget that you can download free trial fonts by clicking that button in the nav at xyztype.com. Our fonts are also available for sale at Type Network, for rent at Fontstand, and to sync at Adobe Fonts.