Frenchtype is the type design practice of Alice Savoie. We work with design studios and communication agencies to create custom typefaces for identity systems and editorial projects. Alice’s
typefaces include Lucette, Romain 20, Faune and Capucine. With over fifteen years of experience, we have collaborated with international clients (The Times, Turner Broadcasting, Ogilvy, etc.) as well as with renowned type foundries including Monotype, Process Type Foundry, Tiro Typeworks, Frere-Jones Type & Darden Studio.
Our typefaces carry a distinct voice. For each project, we aim to create original and well-crafted designs in close dialogue with clients and collaborators. Our work draws on a solid understanding of typographic history, which allows us to shape designs that echo historical forms while addressing contemporary needs. We pay close attention to the specific context of each commission to develop typefaces that are both distinctive and practical.
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Alice Savoie is a graduate from École Duperré and École Estienne in Paris, and holds an MA in Typeface Design and a PhD in type history from the University of Reading (UK). From 2008 to 2010, she worked at Monotype as an in-house type designer, contributing to custom projects for global clients. She currently teaches type design at Écal in Lausanne (CH) and supervises research projects at the Atelier National de Recherche Typographique in Nancy (FR). From 2018—2021 she was the principal researcher on the Leverhulme-funded research project ‘Women in Type’ at the University of Reading under the direction of Prof. Fiona Ross. She is now involved in the project ‘Reception of the New Typography in Francophone Graphic Scenes’, supervised by Professors Catherine de Smet (Université Paris 8) and Davide Fornari (ECAL-HES-SO). She co-edits the Pamphlet collection at Poem editions with Jérôme Knebusch, and is a member of the Atypi and Alphabettes networks. You can access a full list of her talks and publications.
Our typefaces carry a distinct voice. For each project, we aim to create original and well-crafted designs in close dialogue with clients and collaborators. Our work draws on a solid understanding of typographic history, which allows us to shape designs that echo historical forms while addressing contemporary needs. We pay close attention to the specific context of each commission to develop typefaces that are both distinctive and practical.
Alice Savoie is a graduate from École Duperré and École Estienne in Paris, and holds an MA in Typeface Design and a PhD in type history from the University of Reading (UK). From 2008 to 2010, she worked at Monotype as an in-house type designer, contributing to custom projects for global clients. She currently teaches type design at Écal in Lausanne (CH) and supervises research projects at the Atelier National de Recherche Typographique in Nancy (FR). From 2018—2021 she was the principal researcher on the Leverhulme-funded research project ‘Women in Type’ at the University of Reading under the direction of Prof. Fiona Ross. She is now involved in the project ‘Reception of the New Typography in Francophone Graphic Scenes’, supervised by Professors Catherine de Smet (Université Paris 8) and Davide Fornari (ECAL-HES-SO). She co-edits the Pamphlet collection at Poem editions with Jérôme Knebusch, and is a member of the Atypi and Alphabettes networks. You can access a full list of her talks and publications.
Selected awards
Type Director’s Club Certificate of Excellence (2010, 2013, 2019, 2023),
Typographica Favourite typefaces of 2018,
French Ministry of Culture/Cnap (Faune, 2018),
Leverhulme Trust (Research project grant, 2017),
Arts & Humanities Research Council (CDA 2010)
Selected clients
Google, The Times, Turner Broadcasting, Ogilvy, Landor, Chermayeff & Geismar, Johnson Banks, Centre national des arts plastiques, Groupe Imprimerie Nationale, Attoma, A practice for everyday life, Studio Makgill, Danielle LaPorte
Selected features
Le Monde, ‘Design: des femmes de caractère’
Femme Type, ‘Designer interview: Alice Savoie’
Print Mag, ‘10 Brilliant Female Creatives Creating Letters Today’
Le Monde, ‘Mais qui fait la police?’
Etapes.com, Faune d’Alice Savoie
Contact
alice@frenchtype.com
Atelier 14 rue Pailleron
69004 Lyon, FR
Type Director’s Club Certificate of Excellence (2010, 2013, 2019, 2023),
Typographica Favourite typefaces of 2018,
French Ministry of Culture/Cnap (Faune, 2018),
Leverhulme Trust (Research project grant, 2017),
Arts & Humanities Research Council (CDA 2010)
Selected clients
Google, The Times, Turner Broadcasting, Ogilvy, Landor, Chermayeff & Geismar, Johnson Banks, Centre national des arts plastiques, Groupe Imprimerie Nationale, Attoma, A practice for everyday life, Studio Makgill, Danielle LaPorte
Selected features
Le Monde, ‘Design: des femmes de caractère’
Femme Type, ‘Designer interview: Alice Savoie’
Print Mag, ‘10 Brilliant Female Creatives Creating Letters Today’
Le Monde, ‘Mais qui fait la police?’
Etapes.com, Faune d’Alice Savoie
Contact
alice@frenchtype.com
Atelier 14 rue Pailleron
69004 Lyon, FR