Thai font · PAID
DB Urbanist
ดีบี เออร์บันนิสต์
Information verified as of July 2026
Get DB Urbanist from the foundry →
How to install & use
- Windows — Download the .zip, unzip it, then right-click the .ttf/.otf file → “Install”.
- macOS — Double-click the .ttf/.otf file, then click “Install Font” in Font Book.
- Web — A webfont license from the foundry is required before embedding on a website.
Preview DB Urbanist
DB Urbanist is a foundry/desktop font, so it can’t be embedded as a free webfont for a live preview here. See the specimen above for the real letterforms, or load your own text into the Thai Font Tester to compare it against the free Google Fonts alternatives.
What DB Urbanist is
DB Urbanist is a square, graphic contemporary Thai sans-serif from DB (Dear Book), drawn in three weights around a hard-edged, architectural aesthetic of buildings and concrete. The DB catalogue themes it explicitly as “อาคาร, คอนกรีต, ผังชีวิตคนเมือง” — buildings, concrete, plans for urban life.
The name (ดีบี เออร์บันนิสต์) and the squared construction put it in the display-leaning, structural corner of the DB range, near geometric faces used for confident modern branding. It is a focused three-weight family rather than a large system.
DB (Dear Book), founded by Parinya Rojarayanond, is credited as Thailand’s first digital type foundry, established in the late 1980s.
Character design and tone
DB Urbanist is built on squared, geometric forms with straightened curves and firm corners, giving the Thai script a structural, architectural presence. The square construction is what carries the “urban, concrete” theme the foundry advertises.
Consonants like ก, ถ, and ภ are drawn with flattened arcs and squared joints that read as modern and industrial. The Bold weight gives strong headline presence for signage and lockups; the Light weight keeps the structural character while reading calmer. Both Thai ก-ฮ and Latin are shown in specimens.
The tone is graphic and urban — a display sans for city-branded, architectural, and streetwear-adjacent design.
Weights and availability
DB Urbanist ships three weights — Light, Regular, and Bold — as a desktop font, and is also offered in the DB Font Vol. 4 bundle. Licence it from the DB Font catalogue under DB’s commercial terms.
The font is commercial and not distributed free. As a compact display family, it is best for headlines, logos, and signage rather than long text.
Best use cases
DB Urbanist suits urban, architectural, and graphic branding that wants a squared modern Thai voice. Strong briefs:
- Real-estate, architecture, and construction branding
- Streetwear and urban lifestyle graphics
- Event and exhibition signage
- Logos and lockups needing a structural geometric look
- Bilingual Thai/English display headlines
Where it doesn’t fit: body text, soft lifestyle brands, and open-licence projects — use Chakra Petch or K2D for squared Thai character under an open licence.
Pairings
DB Urbanist sets a structural headline; pair it with a neutral body sans. Three pairings:
- DB Adman X — a DB display sibling for advertising layouts
- Sarabun — open-licensed Thai body sans for copy
- Chakra Petch — an open-licensed squared Thai sans for a related look
Licensing
DB Urbanist is commercial proprietary software from DB (Dear Book), licensed per-user, per-application, or per web-font domain. Redistribution needs separate terms. Confirm pricing on the DB Font catalogue page. For open-licensed squared Thai alternatives, see Chakra Petch and the display category.
Frequently asked questions about DB Urbanist
Is DB Urbanist free to use?
No — DB Urbanist is a commercial typeface. You need to buy a license from DB (Dear Book) before using it in a project. Check the license tiers for desktop, web, and app use separately.
How many weights does DB Urbanist have?
DB Urbanist ships in 3 weights: Light, Regular, Bold. Pick a heavier weight for display and headlines, and a Regular or lighter weight for body text and long-form reading.
Does DB Urbanist support Latin and English characters?
Yes — DB Urbanist includes a Latin character set alongside Thai, so it can set English and Thai in one typeface. That makes it a practical choice for bilingual branding, packaging, and UI.
Where can I download DB Urbanist?
Get DB Urbanist from DB (Dear Book). Use the download/license button at the top of this page for the official source — avoid third-party font sites, which often ship outdated or unlicensed files.
What fonts are similar to DB Urbanist?
The closest alternatives to DB Urbanist are Chakra Petch, Kanit, K2D. They share a similar style and use case, so they’re the first faces to compare if you need a different weight range, license, or price.
Who designed DB Urbanist?
DB Urbanist was designed by DB (Dear Book Design) at DB (Dear Book). Full designer credit and the primary source are listed at the bottom of this page.
Information verified as of July 2026
Sources
- DB Urbanist is a commercial contemporary, square, graphic Thai sans from DB (Dear Book) in three weights (Light, Regular, Bold), themed around buildings, concrete and urban life.—DB Font official catalogue page for DB Urbanist (accessed Jul 16, 2026)
- DB (Dear Book Design), founded by Parinya Rojarayanond, was the first Thai digital type foundry, established in the late 1980s.—Luc Devroye type reference — DB Font (accessed Jul 16, 2026)