Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. has been a significant player in typography since the Macintosh's introduction in 1984. The company's commitment to beautiful typography was championed by Steve Jobs and continues to influence how fonts are used in digital interfaces.

Typography Heritage

Steve Jobs famously audited a calligraphy course at Reed College, which later influenced the Macintosh's groundbreaking font capabilities. The Mac was the first personal computer to offer multiple proportionally-spaced fonts, revolutionizing desktop publishing.

System Fonts Evolution

Apple's system fonts have evolved through several generations:

• Monaco - The classic monospace font from early Mac OS
• Lucida Grande - The OS X system font for many years
• San Francisco - The modern system font designed for Apple devices
• SF Mono - Apple's monospace variant for code and terminals

San Francisco Family

San Francisco, introduced in 2014, represents Apple's largest investment in custom typography. The family includes SF Pro for interfaces, SF Compact for Apple Watch, and SF Mono for code. The font automatically adjusts for different sizes and contexts.

Developer Focus

Apple provides SF Mono and SF Pro free for developers through the Apple Developer program. While not available for general commercial use, these fonts have become synonymous with Apple's design language.

Design Philosophy

Apple's typography emphasizes legibility, elegance, and seamless integration with interfaces. Their fonts are optimized for screen rendering and designed to work across the entire Apple ecosystem.