The Northern Block is an independent type foundry internationally recognised for producing modernist fonts for brands, creatives and makers.
Founded in 2006 by Jonathan Hill, The Northern Block's highly-skilled global team has designed an extensive collection of award-winning typefaces for modern-day purposes. In addition to the library of fonts, the team creates custom designs for corporate clients and provides expertise in multi-script languages, including; Arabic, Cyrillic, Greek, Hebrew and Devanagari.
Over the years, The Northern Block has developed a unique and diverse font library licensed to a new breed of buyers, including app developers, brand agencies, video game studios, and web designers. The team has designed custom fonts for international clients such as Disney, Hilton, Lego, Netflix, and Ubisoft. The Northern Block's ever growing partnerships with globally recognised brands allow us to keep pushing the boundaries of typeface design.
Jonathan Hill
Founder and Director
Jonathan is the founder of The Northern Block. He began his type design odyssey in the industrial mill towns of Yorkshire, surrounded by historic textiles, modern art and the no-nonsense voice of the people. A draughtsman at heart, with a passion for function, modernism, and the understated, Jonathan has shaped a career designing typefaces that are recognised by trusted brands, leading video game developers, and global manufacturing companies. Recently, his typefaces have received international awards, and with his dedication to mentoring and nurturing new type design talent, his influence is set to grow stronger.
Donna Wearmouth
Brand and Creative Lead
Donna joined The Northern Block as a Graphic Designer in 2018. In 2022, she progressed to Head of Brand before transitioning into her current role as Brand and Creative Lead in 2025. With over 15 years of industry experience, she has led a wide range of projects, from small start-ups to global brands. Her work has been recognised by the prestigious International Society of Typographic Designers, where she is now an assessor for the student awards, and has been featured in numerous print publications. She also supports students at Northumbria University, Newcastle, where she is a part-time Associate Lecturer.
Tasos Varipatis
Lead Type Designer
Tasos joined The Northern Block in 2022. In early 2026, he transitioned to the role of Lead Type Designer, overseeing all type design-related creative and technical work. Tasos originally studied Graphic Design at Middlesex University, and his love for typography led him to pursue a career as a type designer. He worked for over 3 years as a designer and font developer at well-established type foundries, where he designed Latin, Greek, and Cyrillic scripts and explored emerging technologies, including variable fonts. Based in Zakynthos, Greece, Tasos is a keen boxer and enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter.
You may have recently graduated and want to get your work-in-progress typefaces out there. Or you're a creative agency working on a custom font idea for a client but missing the final ingredient to get it over the line. Collaborate with The Northern Block and discover how to unlock new opportunities and explore unique markets, licensing models and distribution avenues.
TYPE DESIGNERS
Over the years, The Northern Block has earned the trust of leading global brands, delivering bespoke typeface solutions for high-profile campaigns, products, and digital experiences.
The Northern Block's work has been acknowledged by leading design institutions and publications across the globe, reflecting our commitment to pushing the boundaries of typeface design.
AWARDS
PUBLICATIONS
Please contact us if you require any assistance. info@thenorthernblock.co.uk