Re: Proposal Libre Graphics Meeting 2025 in Nürnberg/Nuremberg, Germany

[Dave Crossland]

Hi all

Just to clarify, this year, the sole sponsor was the Font Bureau, a major
client of Strong Type Systems (Lasse); not Google.

While I work as an employee for Google on the Google Fonts team (and
Google, via the GF team, has been a direct sponsor of LGM in the past),
Google was not involved in the sponsorship of LGM 2024. I helped flag the
opportunity to the Font Bureau.

Why did the Font Bureau sponsor LGM? First, it had the fortunate ability to
do so: It is hardly a secret that the Font Bureau has had major deals and
earned good money from both Google and Monotype in recent years, and has
released a number of libre (typo)graphics software projects (mostly
github.com/fontbureau with some at github.com/googlefonts), including a
medium sized web app for testing WIP fonts that Strong Type Systems (Lasse)
has developed, "TypeRoof", in addition to libre fonts commissioned by
Google (Roboto Flex, Amstelvar). I believe the development of Variable
Fonts support within app graphics apps, including Libre Graphics apps, is
important strategically for Font Bureau, and I understand Lasse, Liam, Nate
and others discussed advancing such Variable Fonts support during the LGM.
Also, since the principal at Font Bureau, David Berlow, was unable to
attend events outside the USA this year, having the videos online is a
direct benefit for FB too – so, similar to previous years with Google's
sponsorship for this purpose, since the videos were enabled by the
sponsorship, the descriptions credit Font Bureau.

For me, next year is harder to predict, as Font Bureau may be winding up,
with David's upcoming retirement; and Google has many headlines about its
cost-cutting efforts starting with layoffs. Still I will be sure to flag
the opportunity to anyone I think may be interested. If Google is not
interested, similar to Font Bureau this year, perhaps one or a few folks
working on various projects for Google Fonts may be in a position to
sponsor directly.

Cheers
Dave
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