JOHANNES BIRKENBACH is a graduate from University of Allied Sciences, Mainz, Germany as Graphic Designer, with focus on Typography and Type Design. Since October 1983 John, as his English-speaking friends call him, has always found himself involved in type-related work.

He is one of the last generation of type designers to have made hand drawings at D. Stempel AG and Linotype AG in Germany. He became an expert in the Ikarus Type Design system and moved to England where he oversaw the production of over 1000 digital fonts.

Since 1994 Johannes has operated his own design studio in Pirmasens, Germany and has worked with the Ascender team since 2004 on many font projects.

John has a variety of interests from producing his own cider and apple juice to hunting, running, cycling and playing volleyball. He was a member of two art groups, “Gruppe Pi” (1982 – 1984) and “d’Art” (1984 – 1988), and has been a member of ATypI since 1988.