Plex hero image

Plex

For decades, we’ve relied on typefaces like Helvetica to convey our messages at IBM. While practical, the use of these fonts became more and more pervasive over time, eroding the distinction that made them valuable in the first place; we needed a typeface that was unmistakably IBM.

In 2018, we introduced the world to Plex: IBM’s first-ever bespoke typeface. Plex is an open-source, global typeface that covers over 100 different languages. Inspired by IBM’s brand spirit and history, Plex’s letterforms embody the unique relationship between man and machine, striking a balance between the natural and the engineered; the emotional and rational; the classic and the cutting-edge.

The family includes a Sans, Sans Condensed, Mono, and Serif available in eight different weights, making it flexible and versatile enough to handle print, web, mobile, and everything in between.

People working with IBM System 360.
Zoomed-in shot of Plex on the letter I.
Zoomed-in shot of Plex on the letter B.
Zoomed-in shot of the word Cogntive in Plex.
gray image
gray image
Mike Abbink’s hands doing some serious thinking about Plex.
Iterations of different styles of font.
Gray image
Creating a web application using Plex in a code editor.
Creating a web application using Plex in a code editor.