Lusine Kirakosyan

FONT MAKING APP
2016
Final Android version of Fonty showcasing multiple screen states, from letter creation to font generation.




Role:  Product Designer (UI/UX, Branding, Interaction Design)
Team: UX Team, Android Developers, QA, PM
Tools: Figma, Illustrator
Fonty is a mobile font-making app designed under Picsart Labs to give users the ability to create and personalize their own fonts directly on mobile. It combines simplicity and creativity, allowing users to draw each letter, preview the results, and export their fonts for use within Picsart and beyond.



Complete user flow illustrating every step of the font creation process for a smooth and intuitive experience


PROBLEM


Creative users wanted to add a personal touch to their designs, but existing font-making solutions were complex, desktop-only, and lacked integration with mobile editing tools. This created friction for PicsArt users who wanted a quick and fun way to express themselves through custom typography. 

SOLUTION


Fonty was built to make font creation intuitive, mobile-friendly, and visually engaging. The app enables users to swipe through letter templates, draw characters, name their font, and generate it in just a few steps. Features like visual guides, auto-save, and real-time previews ensure the process feels effortless, while the UI stays clean and distraction-free.

The design followed Material Design principles for familiarity on Android and integrated PicsArt’s complementary brand colors to maintain ecosystem consistency. I used Roboto (Bold, Medium, Regular) for typography to align with platform standards and keep the interface clear. The overall look was minimalistic, emphasizing the creative canvas while providing essential tools at a glance.

Core UI components including main editing fragments, registration screen, alphabet view, and the final font generation screen.




RESEARCH


To understand user needs and define the app’s scope, I conducted:
  • Competitive Analysis: Most font-making apps were cluttered and lacked export flexibility.
  • User Interviews: Users valued personalization but requested a guided process to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
  • Platform Review: Material Design guidelines informed UI decisions for consistency and usability.

Insights from research led to prioritizing simple navigation, onboarding hints, and custom shapes for easier letter creation.

PROTOTYPE


I mapped the full application flow, covering all user states, onboarding, character creation, preview, generation, and export. I created several prototypes to test navigation and letter-creation interactions. Feedback showed users preferred swipe navigation and real-time previews, so I optimized the UI for these patterns. Additional iterations focused on improving the drawing experience with customizable brushes and alignment guides.
Logo design breakdown showing how the Fonty icon was created using Picsart’s design language, grid system, and color scheme.


BRANDING & ICONOGRAPHY


I designed a brand identity and icon system to reflect the app’s creative purpose.
  • Logo: Built with straight lines and right angles, representing structure and precision in font design.
  • Icons: Designed on a pixel grid for visual consistency and scalability, ensuring a clean, minimal aesthetic aligned with Android guidelines.



  • Color Palette: Based on PicsArt’s complementary colors, enhanced with neutral grays and dark tones to keep the focus on user-created fonts while providing strong contrast and accessibility.

  • Typography: Used Roboto for interface text to ensure harmony with Android UI standards and maintain clarity across different screen sizes.

Iconography and font guidelines built on a 22px grid with 1.5px stroke, inspired by Picsart’s grid system and adapted for Fonty.




OUTCOME


Fonty launched under Picsart Labs, providing users with a simple, fun way to create personalized fonts. The app’s clean interface and guided tools made font creation accessible to both casual and advanced users, enhancing their creative experience.

KPI


  • 1M+ downloads on Google Play since launch (2016).
  • Positive user reviews highlighted the app as “easy,” “fun,” and “cool” for font creation.
  • Increased engagement: Based on user testing and in-app observations, users spent an estimated 10% more time using personalization features when creating custom fonts.
  • Retention boost: Auto-save and draft features reduced drop-off rates during the font creation process.