What makes a good typeface?

A good typeface is not just drawn. It is also programmed. When you design for an Indic script, your work does not stop at drawing the letterforms. You also have to write code that tells the font how to behave, how to substitute a half form, how to position a matra, how to stack a conjunct. That back end is not commonly known, even within the design field.

But beyond the technical, a good typeface carries an awareness of context. What language is it supporting? Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, or Sanskrit? Each choice changes the character set, the conjuncts required, the scope of the design. And then there is variety. More typefaces mean more choices, text faces and display faces both, because if you want to make a poster and there is nothing to reach for, the script is quietly diminished.