We don't always make the best choice the first time around. In reality, it’s common to implement a solution and then realize it actually does not solve the problem we were hoping to solve. When attempting to do anything that has a variety of implications, such as font management across large teams, it can take multiple tries before finding a method that works.
Here are the stories of clients who were frustrated with failing solutions, leading them to switch to Universal Type Server.
M&C Saatchi
M&C Saatchi was originally using a competitor font management solution that quickly frustrated its users for lacking needed features and the inability to collect groups of fonts for output. As time went on and issues increased, M&C Saatchi found Universal Type Server by recommendation from an employee who had previously used the solution. After a quick trial period, it was clear that Universal Type Server was able to solve their problems.
Norwich University of the Arts (NUA)
Norwich University of the Arts (NUA), a UK University with a dynamic, contemporary and creative provision in arts, design, architecture and media courses, was initially using a free font management solution. With typography playing a prominent role within many subjects at the University, students often worked with multiple fonts for varying projects. In time, the University realized their free font management solution was not an adequate solution for keeping track of fonts or allowing students to work flexibly across the campus on multiple computers. Ultimately, NUA decided upon Universal Type Server after exploring various options.
SANDOW
Part media company, part design firm and part purveyor of luxury goods, SANDOW requires a robust font management solution that can support their growing client base and font needs. Prior to working with Extensis, SANDOW implemented an alternative font management system that over time created numerous problems. Pivoting off its goal to make businesses smarter, SANDOW turned this mission inward. Michael Shavalier, Vice President of Creative Operations, took the reins on tackling the font challenge and turned to Extensis as SANDOW’s strategic font management partner.
Using Extensis Universal Type Server, Shavalier was able to quickly eliminate unnecessary fonts, paring back their collection from tens of thousands to a manageable four thousand. Shavalier organized fonts based on workgroups, assigning user permissions based on projects.
The Mill
The Mill, one of the most respected post-production and visual effects companies in the world, had competing font management solutions between office locations. While the New York office was a long-time Universal Type Server user, London deferred to an alternative solution to manage their collection of 2,000 fonts. However, the two offices in London using the alternative font management solution were unable to share access.
Seeing the benefits New York was experiencing with Universal Type Server, the London team made the switch. They quickly saw the vast difference in reliability and shared access. Since making the switch, The London office has gone one step further and merged their licenses to their New York office and are today sharing the same server, based in NYC. This allows them to connect all of their users across their global offices so they can manage, distribute, and access their entire font collection over their WAN.
Whether it’s teams that need to have shared access to fonts globally or it’s a company that needs to reign in font compliance and decrease inefficient font spending, Universal Type Server is a comprehensive Enterprise Font Management solution, chosen by respected organizations like UNESCO, The Chronicle and McGarryBowen.
For more information, check out our Universal Type Server page.