Flagship product

MakeYourOwnFont.com

0 to 1 product design, workflow simplification, monetization, end-to-end ownership

Built and monetized a browser-based SaaS that converts handwriting into installable TTF fonts. Designed the full user flow from drawing to preview to export, simplifying font creation for non-technical users. Grew the product to about 20K monthly organic users.

Role

Product Designer / Full-Stack Builder

Focus

0 to 1 product design, workflow simplification, monetization, end-to-end ownership

Why it matters

This case study matters because it shows real product thinking without overstating formal research. The evidence comes from shipped decisions, real constraints, and iteration inside a live product.

Honest framing: This case study matters because it shows real product thinking without overstating formal research. The evidence comes from shipped decisions, real constraints, and iteration inside a live product.

Problem

Creating a usable font from handwriting is not accessible to most people. Existing tools often require desktop software, feel technical, and produce inconsistent results. Users who simply want a straightforward way to turn handwriting into a usable font do not have a good option.

What I observed

Users wanted fast results more than deep control over typography details.
Many users did not complete a full character set.
Users got confused by how font generation worked.
Friction in the earliest steps led to drop-off.

Constraints

Input is messy because the source is freehand drawing.
Output has to become a structured TTF font.
The product needed to run in the browser to keep friction low.
Font generation is computationally heavy.
Most users do not understand typography rules.

Key design decisions

Prioritized simplicity over control by focusing the product around a minimal draw, preview, and export flow instead of exposing complex font settings.
Allowed incomplete fonts to be generated because many users did not finish full character sets.
Used a freemium model so users could understand the product value before paying.
Introduced a premium project-based workflow so users could save progress and iterate.

UX challenges

Turning messy drawings into usable fonts by normalizing spacing, alignment, and baseline consistency.
Reducing friction in the drawing experience with tools like zoom and erase.
Making the generation process understandable through a simpler step-based flow and immediate feedback.

Iteration

The early version required users to complete all glyphs before export.
The early version had no saving, which increased drop-off.
Later versions allowed partial completion, added project saving, and improved drawing tools.
These changes reduced friction and helped more users reach export.

What I built

Canvas-based glyph editor in SvelteKit
Font generation pipeline using Python, FontForge, and Potrace
TTF export system
Stripe monetization
Project storage with Supabase

Outcome

Live product used by real users.
Generates installable fonts usable in common tools.
Organic traffic is driven through SEO.
Monetization is supported through premium features.

What I would improve

Better onboarding for first-time users.
AI-assisted completion for missing glyphs.
Improved preview before download.

What this shows

Ability to design under ambiguity.
Strong product judgment around simplicity versus control.
End-to-end ownership across design, build, and monetization.
Comfort with messy, real-world inputs.