Synesthesia, a superpower in which one sense triggers another, is common among creatives. Designers instinctively pair visual and auditory elements to evoke emotion and convey meaning. Yet, until now, there have been no tools to systematically connect sound and typography. Fonic addresses this gap, allowing users to discover fonts through sound and sound through fonts.
From the iconic Intel audio signature — to the twee scores and Futura fonts in Wes Anderson movies — to the daily barrage of awkward music and font choices for short-form-video — sound and type become one in shaping perception.
Fonic leverages Audiosocket and Monotype’s vast databases, offering a broad cross-section of both libraries and will be expanded over time. Metadata describing the emotional and stylistic qualities of each creative asset enriches the suggestions. This data, validated by humans, feeds an AI system that identifies connections between sound and typography. The result is an intuitive app that provides tailored audio-typographic suggestions based on user inputs.
Fonic serves creative professionals in branding, advertising, vlogging, storytelling, and multimedia design. Whether you’re creating brand assets for a craft brewery, teaching your fans about filmmaking, launching a new sci-fi series, or seeking inspiration for a campaign or rebrand, Fonic offers a starting point for discovering thought-provoking and harmonious sound and type pairings.
Verse One
Fonic will launch in BETA at SXSW and is ever evolving, but even in this early version, it’s a robust, functional tool designed for iterative use by creatives. Its Q&A-driven interface makes exploration fun and helps users push creative boundaries. As Fonic learns and adapts, it aims to become an indispensable part of the creative process.
As we navigate a “Sound On” world, the synergy of typography and sound will continue to reshape branding. Fonic’s innovative approach offers a glimpse into a future where these elements work seamlessly to create impactful, emotionally resonant designs.
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“The Sound & Vision project explores the intersection of typography and sound in our visual cultural landscape. It pushes boundaries by using the latest technology to understand that relationship and innovates by giving creatives a tool for exploring those connections themselves.”
“Challenge accepted. These were my exact words when Charles Nix and Phil Garnham asked if Audiosocket would be interested in exploring the relationship between sound and typography with Monotype. Quite smitten by this concept, I immediately engaged my team in exploratory conversations about where the two intersect and whether there is an innate connection between them.”
“Type designers have a seemingly preternatural ability to connect the abstract forms of letters to sensory experiences — a song with a font, a font with a color, a font with a mood. What if that natural/nurtured ability was available to everyone? Our senses are regularly stimulated by art and design. This project allows us to see the world as a sound designer and to hear the world like a type designer.”
“The global shift toward digital media has accelerated to a point where personalized brand experiences are widely expected. Cross-media exchanges and the rise of AI as a fast-thinking interpreter have opened new opportunities, particularly in SaaS API partnerships. Exploring the interactive potential of typefaces to create appropriate communication is essential. Our Sound & Vision project marks the start of our journey.”
Monotype is a trademark of Monotype Imaging Inc. registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be registered in certain other jurisdictions. Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. Futura is a registered trademark of BauerTypes SL. All other product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product, and service names used in this document are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.