Dear Visitor,
KIND TYPE FOUNDRY is the typographic practice of EMILY KLAEBE, a Portland-based designer and typographer. KIND was founded with the intention of furthering access to systematic, purposeful, and distinctive typefaces.
To be kind is to listen and look closely. Each of our typefaces is a thoughtful exploration of a unique typographic story or classification. Our catalogue examines the wider world that shapes these letterforms and how their type families can continue to evolve for modern use.
We believe that the visualization of written language reflects our convictions and attitudes. Typefaces allow us to communicate beyond what words can articulate alone. Conveying history, expressing emotion, or revealing aspirations are all means in which typography enhances writing. Each of our typeface releases strives to aid in designing written material with meaning.
We are currently preparing our typefaces for commercial release in 2026. Please return later in the year to explore our catalogue of typefaces available for purchase. If you are interested in licensing a beta version of one of our typefaces, you are welcome to reach out.
Yours in typography,
EMILY KLAEBE
Founder and Typographer
PORTLAND, OREGON
The Cascadia RegionKIND TYPE FOUNDRY
kindtype.co
@kindtypefoundry
EMILY KLAEBE
emilyklaebe.com
@emklaebe
© 2026No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
- Missive Serif Light, Medium, and Bold
- Missive Serif Light and Missive Bead Light
- Missive Serif Medium and Semibold
- Missive Serif Bold and Missive Bead Bold
- Missive Bead Bold and Missive Serif Bold
- Missive Bead Bold and Missive Serif Bold
About the Missive FamilyMissive is an ornate serif display family comprising two styles: Missive Serif and Missive Bead.
Missive Serif is defined by its highly stylized serif details. Dramatic flares, gooey ball terminals, and flowing calligraphic-like joins allude to the typeface’s Art Nouveau roots. Its tall x-height and narrow proportions make the typeface well-suited for graphic, large-scale applications.
Missive Bead is the outcome of explorations into translating the serif style into beaded embroidery. A grid system was designed to accommodate the proportions of a “bugle bead” — a type of embroidery bead that is longer than it is wide. The grid is composed of three axes: horizontal, vertical, and a 15° diagonal. The inclusion of the diagonal axis allows the natural flow of Missive Serif’s characteristics to remain present within the prescribed structure of the beaded version.
Together, Missive Serif and Missive Bead form an extravagant typographic pair. By preserving their dramatized attributes across both styles, the result is a romantic, decadently ornate, and fervid type family — well-suited for proclamations (encouraged, though not limited to the “love” kind).
Get in touch for licensing beta versions ↗
About the Kickdrum FamilyKickdrum is an experiment in transfusing Art Deco proportions, exaggerated swirls reminiscent of ’00s display faces, and the niche pop-cultural trend referred to as the “shoe diva” aesthetic.
The typeface’s curling terminals, spiral counters, and wide characters create a wild and energetic style. Throughout the typesetting, there is a rhythm blending curves and straightaways, reigning in the off-kilter approach found in 2000s display type for contemporary usage.
Kickdrum is of entirely unserious nature. It has a Veronica Mars: Season 1 sensibility. It’s the westernized “Parisian chic” of the ’00s modern girl, who rocks an Eiffel Tower lamp on her bedside table. The late-night dELiA*s magazine readers. The “Carries.”
Get in touch for licensing beta versions ↗
About the Francine FamilyFrancine is a text family that aims to blend the foundations of the old-style genre with influences of rounded traits found in geometric forms from the '70s phototype-era.
The family distills basic shapes — like circles, squares, and triangles — into an easy-to-read language. By using the skeleton and proportions of 16th century old-style serifs, the silhouette provides a legible baseline for the family.
The infusion of Bauhaus-esque geometry appears through the overweight curves, bulbous ball terminals, and rounded letterforms that verge on cartoon-like. The result is a typeface that balances a professional tone while remaining unapologetically graphic. Through Francine’s ability to interplay readability with its form-forward ethos, the family pairs well with commercial, pop-culture, and editorial applications.
Francine is comprised of four weights. The Regular, Medium, and Bold weights allow for hierarchal relationships in longform paragraphs. The Black weight provides opportunity for a more display-suited headline style.
Get in touch for licensing beta versions ↗