Here’s another North Philly font, this time from a North Philly native

When the controversial blight-inspired font by designer Cliff Ross first landed on social media, designer Ron Tinsley said he was very disturbed.

“Since I grew up in there, I am well aware of the stereotypes,” said Tinsley, founder of branding agency Prophetik Soul Branding + Design. “But when I saw the explanation for the font, it was clear to me that the person did not grow up or live there. I’m glad this font was deleted.”

And so Tinsley, now a Northeast Philadelphia resident, got to work. Drawing inspiration from North Philly’s ubiquitous truss bridges, as well as the area’s industrial history he put together what he says is a better representation of his childhood stomping ground.

Here’s the “Truss Me” font:

The “Truss Me” font. (Courtesy image)

“I don’t deny that North Philly has seen some rough times over the years,” Tinsley said, but he wishes North Philly’s history as an industrial manufacturing hub or as a center of Black culture got the same level of attention.

Though the font isn’t yet available for download, the project has been completed.

A group of Philly designers also got to work after the font beef, banding together in an effor called PHLOpenType. The first set of fonts from the collective of 13 designers was released last week.