A very interesting article! For those that aren't type geeks, Tobias Frere Jones and Jonathan Hoelfer used to be partners in www.typography.com, and designed a bunch of well know fonts such as Gotham (the Obama campaign font). They had a verbal agreement to be 50-50 partners, but it was never put in writing. It ended in a very messy divorce.

http://nymag.com/news/features/jonathan-hoefler-tobias-frere...

Something good for other co-founders to keep in mind.

As someone who really followed them closely (archer was HUGELY impactful ~10 years ago, and gotham set a bar in politics that has yet to be surpassed), this breakup really left a bad taste in my mouth that's prevented me from ever doing anything with Hoefler again.

So what it wasn't in writing. Hoefler led Frere on for decades, as he did his lifes work, and then dug a dagger into his back.

Glad to see Frere has been able to move on and remain productive after such a setback. Though I'd really like this to have a weight one thinner and one blacker, for that super intense contrast. That optionality is one of the things I really love about Gotham and Proxima Nova

I agree is seems super sad, and Hoefler comes across as a real jerk. If both your names are on the door (as they were then), then you're partners.

I really love Exchange. The medium italic is calling out to me to use on a project I'm thinking about.

I don't understand how the design community continues to support Hoefler. Without a clear explanation that his actions weren't simple, bald dishonesty and greed.

Well sure. The design community also continues to fawn over a cell phone assembled in factories where they have nets to keep the workers from killing themselves.

The design community likes to pretend they're all TED talks and social good, but mostly it's crabs in a bucket, trying to out-shiny each other, realities be damned.

(I say this as a designer)

Crab buckets? Terry Pratchett fan by any chance?

cough Gill Sans.