.noddef

Statement

.noddef is an open typographic ecosystem working with authorial font drafts and their potential for development.

We collect experimental and unfinished typefaces — often created within educational contexts or as part of personal explorations — and present them not as “incomplete works,” but as ideas with character and room to grow.

Most of the fonts are available for free download for personal use and research. Some may later be refined, expanded, or developed into fully functional tools — in collaboration with their authors and professional designers.

At .noddef, unfinished is not a flaw — it’s an opportunity.

Credits

Prepared by Nika Kirichenko, Alexey Pushkarev (oddworks), and Anton Prokopiev (partdirector).

FAQ

How do I submit a font?+
Write to us through the Submit a Font page — tell us about the idea and attach the font files (OTF, TTF and/or WOFF, Glyphs is fine). We'll review the submission, discuss it, and get back to you. You don't need a finished typeface — we're just as interested in early sketches that already carry character.
.noddef is a curated platform+
We don't publish everything. Every project goes through a preliminary selection and discussion. We're interested in type sketches and drafts that already carry character, an idea, an unusual approach, or an interesting direction for growth.
All rights stay with the author+
.noddef does not take the copyright to fonts. The author remains the owner of their work and can request removal of a project from the platform at any time. Our job is to help a typeface find an audience and a new context.
Most fonts are distributed for free+
At this stage most projects are available under the .noddef Open Use License v1.0 (OUL). This means: — The font can be used for free. — In personal and commercial projects. — You may not sell the font itself. — You may not pass the font off as your own. — You may not distribute modified versions without approval. — When publishing, credit the author and the .noddef platform.
Are all fonts free?+
Most are. But for some projects the author chooses to sell the font: instead of a download button these have a link to buy it from the author or their store. In that case the terms and price are set by the author, not by .noddef.
What about portfolios?+
Yes. We consider using the fonts in educational, research, and portfolio projects acceptable, as long as it isn't a standalone commercial sale of a product built around the font. If a specific project has additional restrictions, they will be stated separately.
Can a font be developed further?+
Sometimes — yes. One of the reasons .noddef exists is that many interesting type ideas stay unfinished because the author lacks the time, resources, or a reason to keep going. If a project draws interest, we can connect the author and the interested party to discuss further development of the typeface. In some cases invited curators and type designers may join the process (discussed separately).
What we do at .noddef+
— collect interesting type drafts; — help them become visible; — share processes and research; — create space for experiment and exploration.
What we don't do at .noddef+
— we don't sell other people's fonts; — we don't act as the rights holder; — we don't judge projects as “good / bad”; — we don't promise commercial success or guaranteed development of every project.
How can I get in touch?+
Write to anton@partdirector.ch — about fonts, licensing, collaboration, or if you need a missing letter or a custom version.

For us, .noddef is above all an attempt to make room for what usually stays off-screen. Because sometimes the most interesting ideas appear long before the 1.0 release.