When you look at a font on your screen, you may not think about the effort behind each curve and line. But for Manjunatha R., the founder of Akshara Type Studio, letters are more than shapes—they are an art form, a cultural identity, and a life long passion.
How It All Began
Manjunatha grew up in Tirumakudalu Narasipura, a small town in Karnataka’s Mysuru district. At just ten years old, he found joy in sketching Kannada letters by hand. What started as doodles slowly grew into a fascination, and over time, this childhood hobby became his passion. In 2021, he officially founded Akshara Type Studio, a small but impactful design studio dedicated to creating beautiful digital fonts in Kannada.
What Makes Akshara Type Studio Special
Akshara Type Studio is not just about making fonts look good—it’s about giving words a soul. One of their most loved creations is ATS Chikkamagaluru, a playful font inspired by children’s handwriting. It comes in fun styles, and perfect for storybooks, invites, and learning materials.
Additional Fonts by Akshara Type Studio
1. ATS Bandipura
- Inspired by the elephants.
- This was Manjunatha’s first font, released in January 2022.
2. ATS Bengaluru (with five distinct styles)
- Designed specifically for LED displays, as existing Kannada Unicode fonts.
- Includes five styles: Dot, Smooth, Pixel, Squared, and LED.
- Named after Bengaluru, reflecting the city’s tech-savvy and modern vibe.
The Man Behind the Vision
Manjunatha’s story shows how a simple passion can make a difference. From sketching letters in his schooldays to winning recognition. He has received the T Narasipura Taluk Kannada Rajyotsava Award (2022) and the Mysuru District Kannada Rajyotsava Award (2023) for his contribution to Kannada typography. Even today, he continues to dream big, creating fonts that connect tradition with technology.
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Akshara Type Studio