ITC (International Typeface Corporation)

The International Typeface Corporation (ITC) was founded in 1970 by Aaron Burns, Herb Lubalin, and Edward Rondthaler. ITC revolutionized the type industry by creating a new model for typeface licensing and distribution, separating type design from manufacturing.

Revolutionary Business Model

Before ITC, typefaces were tied to specific typesetting equipment. ITC created a new paradigm where typefaces could be licensed independently, allowing the same designs to be used across different systems. This fundamentally changed how the type industry operated.

U&lc Magazine

ITC published Upper and lower case (U&lc), an influential magazine that showcased typography and type design from 1973 to 1999. The magazine featured experimental layouts by Herb Lubalin and became essential reading for designers worldwide.

Notable Typefaces

ITC's library includes distinctive fonts that defined 1970s and 1980s design:

• ITC Avant Garde Gothic - Herb Lubalin's geometric masterpiece
• ITC Bodoni - A refined interpretation of Bodoni's designs
• ITC Garamond - A popular (if controversial) interpretation
• ITC Lubalin Graph - A slab serif based on Avant Garde

Legacy

Now part of Monotype, ITC's fonts remain widely used and influential. The "ITC" prefix on typeface names indicates designs that were either created by or licensed through the International Typeface Corporation.