Playpen Sans Thai was designed by TypeTogether after over two years of primary research into handwriting education for Latin-based languages, available at primarium.info.
It is a variable font with a weight range from Thin (100) to ExtraBold (800). It supports two different writing systems: Thai and Latin, covering Thai and over 332 Latin-based languages, along with a set of “reward icons” as emoji. The superfamily also includes a Pan-African Latin, Greek, Cyrillic (Playpen Sans), Arabic (Playpen Sans Arabic), Devanagari (Playpen Sans Deva), and Hebrew (Playpen Sans Hebrew) fonts that expand the language support of the system.
Playpen Sans Thai has alternate glyphs for each character that are automatically applied as you type, with a built-in shuffler that both ensures variety and avoids repetition. This adds to the overall organic, spontaneous, and authentic feel of the handwritten style.
To contribute, see github.com/TypeTogether/Playpen-Sans
Playpen Sans Thai is a playful and distinctive typeface that reimagines the traditional Thai script with a unique twist. Unlike conventional Thai fonts that rely on simple looped or loopless terminals, this design introduces a subtle yet innovative feature: hook-shaped terminals that hint at the natural starting point of each letter. Inspired by extensive research into the most legible letterforms for graphic novels, this detail not only enhances readability but also adds a touch of whimsy. The flowing strokes capture the fluid, continuous nature of Thai writing, striking a perfect balance between casual and steady—a rhythm that feels neither too fast nor too slow. The result is a font with a lively, fun-loving personality, designed to bring joy and clarity to every word.
Some typefaces excel at just one thing, while others do multiple things well. Playpen Sans stands out by perfectly imitating casual handwriting, blending the organic feel of something made by hand with the precision of a professional digital typeface. Handwritten text is naturally inconsistent, but digital fonts aim for uniformity. Playpen Sans bridges this gap by offering a set of characters that are “the same, but different,” creating an authentic and human-like appearance within the constraints of digital design. It has a set of clear letterforms that are easy to write and recognize. The design forms a bridge between handwritten and typographic letters, friendly to both little readers and adults.
To achieve this, Playpen Sans includes multiple versions of each character and a built-in shuffler, ensuring no two shapes repeat too closely. This results in text that feels spontaneous, fun, and organic, while maintaining the functionality of a modern typeface. Designed with non-designers in mind, it shines in informal settings like greeting cards, invitations, children’s books, and graphic novels. Its clarifying features, such as straight and curved endings for certain letters and optional shapes, add to its versatility.
Playpen Sans combines the best of both worlds: the aesthetic charm of handwritten text and the technological capabilities of a digital font. It’s spontaneous, authentic, and effortlessly bridges the gap between the organic and the digital.
Playpen Sans has emojis for breezy and encouraging uses, that each match the eight named weights of the Latin. Find here the list of all the emojis available. You can copy and paste them into your document editor when using the font. 😉
🌞 😍 ☠ ☹ 😉 ✏ 📖 🏠 ✍ 🧩 🦖 🪐 ✈ 🌠 🎂 🎨 📣 👆 👍 👎 🎯 🪫 ✅ ❌ 🏅 🦄