Hi there—and thanks for stopping by! I’m Risto, a designer from Finland, now based in Tokyo. Since 2023, I’ve been working at Fontworks, where I design and produce original Latin typefaces—both library and custom—and provide feedback on Latin and rōmaji sets created by my Japanese colleagues. I've also drawn kanji for the digital revival of the Tsukuji Nigo Mincho metal type family, currently in development at Fontworks.
In Tokyo, I’ve been fortunate to learn from two great mentors: Joachim Müller-Lancé (Latin & Japanese writing systems) and Akira Kobayashi (kanji fundamentals).
Before that, I studied type design in the Master of Design program, Type and Media, at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, in the Netherlands. There, I drew Arctica—a type family exploring the tension between high contrast and brutalism. I hold a ba in Graphic Design from the same academy in The Hague. I have assisted in the production of Rizoma for R‑Typography, and I make wordmarks, including the one for jewelry designer Ildar Wafin.
Previously, I worked as an urban planning consultant, helping create more bicycle-friendly cities. I earned a Master of Science in Transport Engineering and Urban Planning at Aalto University in Finland.
Beyond work, I make music, do yoga, enjoy Japanese food (a lot), and go bouldering now and then. And yes—I check my email regularly. Feel free to get in touch, or just say hi!