Matthew Carter

Carter designed many of the most widely used typefaces in the world, including Verdana, Georgia, and Tahoma for Microsoft, which were created specifically for on-screen readability. He also designed Bell Centennial (used in AT&T phone directories), Snell Roundhand, and Bitstream Charter, among many others.

Carter received a MacArthur Fellowship (commonly known as the 'Genius Grant') in 2010, recognizing his contributions to type design. He has also received the Type Directors Club Medal and the AIGA Medal for his lifetime achievements in typography.

Both typefaces were commissioned by Microsoft in the mid-1990s for optimal legibility on low-resolution computer screens. Carter designed them with generous spacing, wide counters, and distinctive character shapes that remain readable at small sizes, which is why they became some of the most-used screen fonts in the early web era.

Carter co-founded Carter & Cone Type with Cherie Cone in 1989, an independent type foundry that produces custom and retail typefaces. The foundry has created custom typefaces for clients including Time magazine, The Boston Globe, and The New York Times, alongside retail releases like Miller and Sophia.