Designing a typeface for one language is already challenging. Doing it across multiple languages and writing systems is where things get interesting, and complicated.
Bahasatype is a multilingual type design studio based in Indonesia. We work with brands, agencies, and type foundries that need fonts to work smoothly across Latin and non-Latin scripts, including Arabic, Jawi, and other regional writing systems.
Our focus is on custom typefaces and multiscript font systems that stay consistent across platforms like print, web, apps, and documents.
Working Across Scripts
Multiscript type design is not just about making different scripts look similar. Each script has its own structure, rhythm, and technical rules. When those are ignored, problems usually show up later, broken shaping, awkward spacing, or fonts that behave differently depending on where they’re used.
Our work sits between:
- Type design
- Multiscript development
- Script engineering and OpenType features
That mix helps us design fonts that are easier to use, extend, and maintain over time.
What We Do
We collaborate with:
- Design studios and branding agencies
- Product teams and digital platforms
- Type foundries expanding their fonts into new scripts
Our main work includes:
- Custom typeface design
- Multiscript font development
- Script engineering for web, apps, and documents
Every project is tested in the tools designers actually use, so issues are caught early, not after launch.
How We Work
Our process combines research, drawing, spacing, and technical testing. Each script is treated as its own system, not as a visual add-on to Latin.
Being based in Southeast Asia, where multiple scripts appear side by side every day, shapes how we approach multilingual typography in practical design contexts.
For Clients and Partners
Bahasatype works well with teams who care about:
- Getting typography right across languages
- Avoiding technical issues late in production
- Building type systems that can grow over time
If you’re planning a custom font, extending an existing typeface into Arabic or other scripts, or looking for a partner in multiscript type design, we’re happy to talk.
What’s Next
Alongside custom projects, we’re developing retail font families built from research and hands-on project experience. This blog will be a place to share notes from our work, technical findings, and thoughts on designing type across scripts.