From Flops to Fonts: How a Dyslexic Designer Rewrote Reading
Ever tried reading a page where the letters dance like tipsy ballerinas, flipping and twisting until your brain begs for mercy? For Christian Boer, a Dutch designer with dyslexia, that was daily life—until he turned the tables and created the Dyslexie font, a typeface that tames those wild letters for easier reading.
Christian’s school days were a battleground. At six, he’d dodge reading aloud with excuses like “I’m tired,” while teachers branded him lazy, dishing out punishments instead of help. “I’d read two lines, and they’d say, ‘Okay, stop,’” he recalls. English as a second language? Torture—too slow for subtitles, he learned it from movies instead. Middle school locked him out of higher tracks because language skills lagged, despite his knack for concepts. Sound familiar, parents? That kid doodling in class might not be slacking—they could be wrestling a brain wired differently.
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Christian Boer’s Dyslexie font proves a Growth Mindset beats dyslexia’s chaos
Fast-forward to art school, 2008. A 200-page English text in Times New Roman nearly broke him—two pages, a nap, repeat. “It was a horror story,” Christian laughs. His solution? Dyslexie font, designed to stop letters from mirroring or blending. Longer ascenders on “h,” bigger openings on “e”—every tweak came from his own reading errors, tested on fellow dyslexics. It’s not just a font; it’s a lifeline, proving that adapting the world to a child’s brain beats forcing them into a mold they’ll never fit.
I’d read two pages and fall asleep for 20 minutes—it was a horror story.” — Christian Boer
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Growth Mindset in Action
Christian’s story is Growth Mindset on steroids. He didn’t accept “I can’t read” as his fate—he hacked it. From bribing English teachers with cookies to dodge speaking tests, to crafting a font that’s now a worldwide tool, he flipped deficits into wins. “I’m good at problem-solving because of dyslexia,” he says. Parents, take note: your kid’s quirks aren’t flaws—they’re raw material. Challenge their brains with the right support, and watch neuroplasticity work its magic. Stuck isn’t permanent; it’s just a starting line.
Key takeaways
1
Dyslexie font tweaks letters to cut reading errors for dyslexics.
2
Christian’s Growth Mindset turned struggles into a global solution.
3
Early tools (not waiting) unlock a child’s potential.
Beyond Fonts: A Broader Vision
Dyslexie isn’t the only trick up Christian’s sleeve. He’s pushed for sans-serif fonts (think Comic Sans, but deliberate), bigger sizes (16-point, please), and tweaks like line spacing and background tints to ease visual stress. He’s even roped AI into the mix—think forms that auto-fill or text read at triple speed in a crisp AI voice. His Week of Dyslexia in the Netherlands spotlights strengths, not just struggles. It’s a wake-up call: dyslexia’s more than reading woes—it’s a lens on the world, and kids need to know it.
I’m good at problem-solving because of dyslexia… I see myself as pretty self-aware.” — Christian Boer
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Kicking the Villain to the Curb
The villain here? The lazy assumption that dyslexic kids are doomed to flounder—or that schools will magically fix it. Christian’s font screams otherwise: tailor the tools, and the brain responds. Parents, you’re the first line of defense—don’t wait for a teacher to spot the signs. Curious if dyslexia’s in play? Boost your kid’s Confidence with a quick, free Dyslexia Test. Act fast—because every day you delay, that villain tightens its grip.
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Laura Lurns· Learning Success expertWrites about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.More about Laura Lurns
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