The Untold Story of “Sandoll Nemony” Almost Becoming Toast

 

When you think of Sandoll fonts, which font comes to mind? There are many, but one name might stand out to many of you. Today, we meet with Park Bumi, the PD of the Type Planning Team who created “Sandoll Nemony,” to hear about the creation process and the behind-the-scenes stories of “Nemony.”

 

 

Q. Hello, PD Boomi! First, could you please introduce yourself briefly?

 

A. Hello. I am Park Boomi, a type designer at Sandoll for 10 years. I have created several fonts for Sandoll and many corporate fonts.

 

Q. Since I joined the company, I’ve known you as the ‘mother of “Sandoll Nemony” and “Sandoll Hoyoyo.”’ As the creator of these iconic Sandoll fonts, could you boast a little about the fonts you’ve made at Sandoll?

 

A. Besides “Nemony” and “Hoyoyo,” I also created fonts like “Sandoll Gwanghwamun” and “Sandoll Blue Night.” When I’m not making Sandoll fonts, I have produced many corporate fonts. Being called their mother makes the fonts feel like my children (haha). I’m proud that they are quite popular on SandollCloud.

Q. “Nemony” has been consistently loved since its release in 2018. It debuted as a font with a new, unique look. What inspired you to create this font initially?

 

A. Fonts that were square and filled, like “Sandoll Gyeokdong Gothic” and “Sandoll Cinema Theater,” were consistently popular. This was true for fonts from other companies as well. However, while those two fonts had a solid and robust feel, I wanted to create a font that was softer and cuter yet still filled the space completely.

 

Q. The name “Nemony” also adds to its charm. Where did the idea for this cute name come from? Were there any other name candidates?

 

**A. The name “Nemony” wasn’t decided until the production was nearly finished. We couldn’t find a name we liked, so I asked a cute PD who was nearby, “What should we name this?” and they immediately said, “Since it’s square-shaped… how about ‘Nemony’?” It was a spontaneous yet perfect fit.

 

However, “Nemony” is not a dictionary word, and at the time, it was considered too cute and radical, which caused some concern. But before its release, we conducted a user vote on Sandoll Cloud’s social media, and “Nemony” proudly won over the other name candidates, securing its perfect name.

 

 

Font name vote before the release of “Nemony” (Source: SandollCloud Facebook)

 

 

Q. “Nemony” stands out among fully filled title fonts. What are the unique features of “Nemony” compared to other fonts, and did you face any difficulties while designing these aspects?

 

**A. Generally, title fonts use straight strokes to capture strong attention, whereas “Nemony” uses subtle curves. The plump strokes give it a cute charm, making it stand out a bit differently from other fonts.

 

When sketching initially, it was challenging to find the right amount of curvature—enough to make it noticeable without being too excessive, yet still fitting for a title font. Moreover, drawing with curves instead of straight lines means increased file size and more work. However, those subtle curves make “Nemony” appear smooth both on paper and on screens!**

 

Q. “Nemony” is often used for its casual and cute feel, but its boldness makes it suitable for attention-grabbing titles as well. As its creator, how do you think “Nemony” is best used?

 

**A. As you mentioned, it was designed with a casual and cute feel in mind, but it’s surprisingly well-suited for serious or even scary contexts. The curves are best showcased when the font is used in larger sizes, where they can be fully appreciated. While it might not be ideal for long texts or body copy in books, it’s great for display purposes, where its eye-catching qualities shine.

 

Example: Media Changbi, The Whitest Mouse in the World**

Example: Frag Studio, Maker Exploration Life

 

Q. Due to the high interest and love for “Nemony,” “Sandoll Nemony2” was released a year later with five additional weights. And I heard there’s more news about “Nemony” this year?

 

A. Yes, “Sandoll Nemony” will be newly expanded and released this coming August. It will now include all syllables of modern Hangul, expanding from 2,780 characters to 11,172. Previously, it only supported Korean and English, but now it will also support most European languages, including French and German, as well as Russian!

 

Q. The expansion of “Nemony” to various languages is an interesting point.

 

A. The reason for expanding the languages is… I noticed a YouTube channel I enjoy using “Nemony” for subtitles, but when foreign names or words appeared, they had to switch to a different font. It was really unfortunate to see that. Observing such instances, I realized there was a clear need from users, which highlighted the necessity for expansion. Now that it supports languages beyond Korean and English, I hope it will be well-used in subtitles for K-content for international fans! (Haha)

 

Q. Lastly, could you say a few words to everyone who uses “Nemony”?

 

A. “Nemony” was first released in August 2018, and I’m amazed and grateful that it continues to be loved. Please look forward to and use Sandoll fonts a lot in the future! Thank you.

 

Written by: Lee Soyun, Sandoll Planning and Operations Team