diff --git a/fontc/src/lib.rs b/fontc/src/lib.rs
index 84c733524..e78738df5 100644
--- a/fontc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/fontc/src/lib.rs
@@ -1592,7 +1592,12 @@ mod tests {
         );
 
         assert_eq!(
-            (0..4).map(GlyphId::new).collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            vec![
+                GlyphId::new(0),
+                GlyphId::new(1),
+                GlyphId::new(2),
+                GlyphId::new(5),
+            ],
             [0x20, 0x21, 0x2d, 0x3d]
                 .iter()
                 .map(|cp| font.cmap().unwrap().map_codepoint(*cp as u32).unwrap())
diff --git a/glyphs-reader/src/font.rs b/glyphs-reader/src/font.rs
index 65800c67c..9d40ac4cb 100644
--- a/glyphs-reader/src/font.rs
+++ b/glyphs-reader/src/font.rs
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ impl FeatureSnippet {
 pub struct Glyph {
     pub glyphname: String,
     pub layers: Vec<Layer>,
+    /// The left kerning group
+    pub left_kern: Option<String>,
+    /// The right kerning group
+    pub right_kern: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Hash)]
@@ -166,6 +170,8 @@ pub struct Axis {
 pub struct RawGlyph {
     pub layers: Vec<RawLayer>,
     pub glyphname: String,
+    pub kern_left: Option<String>,
+    pub kern_right: Option<String>,
     #[fromplist(rest)]
     pub other_stuff: BTreeMap<String, Plist>,
 }
@@ -975,6 +981,14 @@ impl RawFont {
         if let Some(kerning) = self.other_stuff.remove("kerning") {
             self.other_stuff.insert("kerningLTR".to_string(), kerning);
         };
+        for glyph in self.glyphs.iter_mut() {
+            if let Some(Plist::String(group)) = glyph.other_stuff.remove("leftKerningGroup") {
+                glyph.kern_left = Some(group);
+            }
+            if let Some(Plist::String(group)) = glyph.other_stuff.remove("rightKerningGroup") {
+                glyph.kern_right = Some(group);
+            }
+        }
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -1340,6 +1354,8 @@ impl TryFrom<RawGlyph> for Glyph {
         Ok(Glyph {
             glyphname: from.glyphname,
             layers: instances,
+            left_kern: from.kern_left,
+            right_kern: from.kern_right,
         })
     }
 }
@@ -1953,7 +1969,14 @@ mod tests {
     fn glyph_order_default_is_file_order() {
         let font = Font::load(&glyphs3_dir().join("WghtVar.glyphs")).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(
-            vec!["space", "exclam", "hyphen", "manual-component"],
+            vec![
+                "space",
+                "exclam",
+                "hyphen",
+                "bracketleft",
+                "bracketright",
+                "manual-component"
+            ],
             font.glyph_order
         );
     }
@@ -2192,6 +2215,22 @@ mod tests {
                 .collect::<HashSet<_>>()
         );
 
+        let actual_groups: Vec<_> = font
+            .glyphs
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|(name, glyph)| {
+                if glyph.left_kern.is_some() || glyph.right_kern.is_some() {
+                    Some((
+                        name.as_str(),
+                        glyph.left_kern.as_deref(),
+                        glyph.right_kern.as_deref(),
+                    ))
+                } else {
+                    None
+                }
+            })
+            .collect();
+
         let actual_kerning = font
             .kerning_ltr
             .get("m01")
@@ -2201,12 +2240,21 @@ mod tests {
             .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
         assert_eq!(
-            vec![
-                ("exclam", "exclam", -360),
-                ("exclam", "hyphen", 20),
-                ("hyphen", "hyphen", -150),
-            ],
-            actual_kerning,
+            (
+                vec![
+                    ("bracketleft", Some("brackets"), Some("brackets")),
+                    ("bracketright", Some("brackets"), Some("brackets")),
+                ],
+                vec![
+                    ("@MMK_L_brackets", "exclam", -165),
+                    ("bracketleft", "bracketright", -300),
+                    ("exclam", "@MMK_R_brackets", -160),
+                    ("exclam", "exclam", -360),
+                    ("exclam", "hyphen", 20),
+                    ("hyphen", "hyphen", -150),
+                ],
+            ),
+            (actual_groups, actual_kerning),
         );
     }
 }
diff --git a/glyphs2fontir/src/source.rs b/glyphs2fontir/src/source.rs
index 998fac0ad..cd2e281bf 100644
--- a/glyphs2fontir/src/source.rs
+++ b/glyphs2fontir/src/source.rs
@@ -620,7 +620,14 @@ mod tests {
     #[test]
     fn find_glyphs() {
         assert_eq!(
-            HashSet::from(["space", "hyphen", "exclam", "manual-component"]),
+            HashSet::from([
+                "space",
+                "hyphen",
+                "exclam",
+                "bracketleft",
+                "bracketright",
+                "manual-component"
+            ]),
             glyph_state_for_file(&glyphs3_dir(), "WghtVar.glyphs")
                 .keys()
                 .map(|k| k.as_str())
@@ -685,10 +692,17 @@ mod tests {
                 .map(|a| a.tag)
                 .collect::<Vec<_>>()
         );
-        let expected: IndexSet<GlyphName> = vec!["space", "exclam", "hyphen", "manual-component"]
-            .iter()
-            .map(|s| (*s).into())
-            .collect();
+        let expected: IndexSet<GlyphName> = vec![
+            "space",
+            "exclam",
+            "hyphen",
+            "bracketleft",
+            "bracketright",
+            "manual-component",
+        ]
+        .iter()
+        .map(|s| (*s).into())
+        .collect();
         assert_eq!(expected, context.get_init_static_metadata().glyph_order);
     }
 
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/README.md b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1a86d1028
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+Created by converting .glyphs files using fontmake, e.g.:
+
+```shell
+$ fontmake -o=ufo resources/testdata/glyphs3/WghtVar.glyphs
+$ mv master_ufo/* resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/fontinfo.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/fontinfo.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3ad1eda79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/fontinfo.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>ascender</key>
+    <integer>800</integer>
+    <key>capHeight</key>
+    <integer>700</integer>
+    <key>copyright</key>
+    <string>Copy!</string>
+    <key>descender</key>
+    <integer>-200</integer>
+    <key>familyName</key>
+    <string>WghtVar</string>
+    <key>italicAngle</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>openTypeHeadCreated</key>
+    <string>2022/12/01 04:52:20</string>
+    <key>openTypeNameDescription</key>
+    <string>The greatest weight var</string>
+    <key>openTypeNameLicenseURL</key>
+    <string>https://example.com/my/font/license</string>
+    <key>openTypeNameVersion</key>
+    <string>New Value</string>
+    <key>openTypeOS2Selection</key>
+    <array>
+      <integer>7</integer>
+      <integer>8</integer>
+    </array>
+    <key>openTypeOS2Type</key>
+    <array>
+      <integer>3</integer>
+    </array>
+    <key>postscriptUnderlinePosition</key>
+    <integer>-100</integer>
+    <key>postscriptUnderlineThickness</key>
+    <integer>50</integer>
+    <key>styleMapFamilyName</key>
+    <string>WghtVar</string>
+    <key>styleMapStyleName</key>
+    <string>bold</string>
+    <key>styleName</key>
+    <string>Bold</string>
+    <key>unitsPerEm</key>
+    <integer>1000</integer>
+    <key>versionMajor</key>
+    <integer>42</integer>
+    <key>versionMinor</key>
+    <integer>42</integer>
+    <key>xHeight</key>
+    <integer>500</integer>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/bracketleft.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/bracketleft.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..58d3becdd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/bracketleft.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="bracketleft" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="005B"/>
+  <outline>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="454" y="629" type="line"/>
+      <point x="324" y="629" type="line"/>
+      <point x="324" y="58" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="58" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="-17" type="line"/>
+      <point x="243" y="-17" type="line"/>
+      <point x="243" y="704" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="704" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/bracketright.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/bracketright.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4bd39ccd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/bracketright.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="bracketright" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="005D"/>
+  <outline>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="243" y="629" type="line"/>
+      <point x="243" y="704" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="704" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="-17" type="line"/>
+      <point x="243" y="-17" type="line"/>
+      <point x="243" y="58" type="line"/>
+      <point x="373" y="58" type="line"/>
+      <point x="373" y="629" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/contents.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/contents.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..47862ecda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/contents.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>bracketleft</key>
+    <string>bracketleft.glif</string>
+    <key>bracketright</key>
+    <string>bracketright.glif</string>
+    <key>exclam</key>
+    <string>exclam.glif</string>
+    <key>hyphen</key>
+    <string>hyphen.glif</string>
+    <key>manual-component</key>
+    <string>manual-component.glif</string>
+    <key>space</key>
+    <string>space.glif</string>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/exclam.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/exclam.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c16771227
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/exclam.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="exclam" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="0021"/>
+  <outline>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="228" y="174" type="line"/>
+      <point x="364" y="176" type="line"/>
+      <point x="434" y="605" type="line"/>
+      <point x="159" y="605" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="228" y="-20" type="line"/>
+      <point x="364" y="-20" type="line"/>
+      <point x="364" y="94" type="line"/>
+      <point x="228" y="94" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/hyphen.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/hyphen.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4bc2c7341
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/hyphen.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="hyphen" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="002D"/>
+  <outline>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="92" y="356" type="line"/>
+      <point x="92" y="224" type="line"/>
+      <point x="508" y="224" type="line"/>
+      <point x="508" y="356" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/manual-component.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/manual-component.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cd1d614cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/manual-component.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="manual-component" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="003D"/>
+  <outline>
+    <component base="hyphen" xScale="1.15" yScale="1.25" xOffset="10" yOffset="100"/>
+    <component base="hyphen"/>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/space.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/space.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..983348125
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/glyphs/space.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="space" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="0020"/>
+  <outline>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/groups.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/groups.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..15368f4da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/groups.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>public.kern1.brackets</key>
+    <array>
+      <string>bracketleft</string>
+      <string>bracketright</string>
+    </array>
+    <key>public.kern2.brackets</key>
+    <array>
+      <string>bracketleft</string>
+      <string>bracketright</string>
+    </array>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/kerning.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/kerning.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c49f61f57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/kerning.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>bracketleft</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>bracketright</key>
+      <integer>-150</integer>
+    </dict>
+    <key>exclam</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>exclam</key>
+      <integer>-100</integer>
+    </dict>
+    <key>hyphen</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>hyphen</key>
+      <integer>-50</integer>
+    </dict>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/layercontents.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/layercontents.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b9c1a4f27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/layercontents.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <array>
+    <array>
+      <string>public.default</string>
+      <string>glyphs</string>
+    </array>
+  </array>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/lib.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/lib.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5390b2cd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/lib.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>com.github.googlei18n.ufo2ft.filters</key>
+    <array>
+      <dict>
+        <key>name</key>
+        <string>eraseOpenCorners</string>
+        <key>namespace</key>
+        <string>glyphsLib.filters</string>
+        <key>pre</key>
+        <true/>
+      </dict>
+    </array>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFont.disablesAutomaticAlignment</key>
+    <false/>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFont.useNiceNames</key>
+    <integer>1</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.customValue</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.customValue1</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.customValue2</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.customValue3</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.iconName</key>
+    <string>Bold</string>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.weightValue</key>
+    <integer>700</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.widthValue</key>
+    <integer>100</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.fontMasterOrder</key>
+    <integer>1</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.weightValue</key>
+    <integer>700</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.widthValue</key>
+    <integer>100</integer>
+    <key>public.glyphOrder</key>
+    <array>
+      <string>space</string>
+      <string>exclam</string>
+      <string>hyphen</string>
+      <string>bracketleft</string>
+      <string>bracketright</string>
+      <string>manual-component</string>
+    </array>
+    <key>public.postscriptNames</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>manual-component</key>
+      <string>manualcomponent</string>
+    </dict>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/metainfo.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/metainfo.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7b8b34ac6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Bold.ufo/metainfo.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>creator</key>
+    <string>com.github.fonttools.ufoLib</string>
+    <key>formatVersion</key>
+    <integer>3</integer>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/fontinfo.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/fontinfo.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6fc0f394c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/fontinfo.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>ascender</key>
+    <integer>737</integer>
+    <key>capHeight</key>
+    <integer>702</integer>
+    <key>copyright</key>
+    <string>Copy!</string>
+    <key>descender</key>
+    <integer>-42</integer>
+    <key>familyName</key>
+    <string>WghtVar</string>
+    <key>italicAngle</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>openTypeHeadCreated</key>
+    <string>2022/12/01 04:52:20</string>
+    <key>openTypeNameDescription</key>
+    <string>The greatest weight var</string>
+    <key>openTypeNameLicenseURL</key>
+    <string>https://example.com/my/font/license</string>
+    <key>openTypeNameVersion</key>
+    <string>New Value</string>
+    <key>openTypeOS2Selection</key>
+    <array>
+      <integer>7</integer>
+      <integer>8</integer>
+    </array>
+    <key>openTypeOS2Type</key>
+    <array>
+      <integer>3</integer>
+    </array>
+    <key>postscriptBlueValues</key>
+    <array>
+      <integer>-16</integer>
+      <integer>0</integer>
+      <integer>737</integer>
+      <integer>753</integer>
+    </array>
+    <key>postscriptOtherBlues</key>
+    <array>
+      <integer>-58</integer>
+      <integer>-42</integer>
+    </array>
+    <key>postscriptUnderlinePosition</key>
+    <integer>-100</integer>
+    <key>postscriptUnderlineThickness</key>
+    <integer>50</integer>
+    <key>styleMapFamilyName</key>
+    <string>WghtVar</string>
+    <key>styleMapStyleName</key>
+    <string>regular</string>
+    <key>styleName</key>
+    <string>Regular</string>
+    <key>unitsPerEm</key>
+    <integer>1000</integer>
+    <key>versionMajor</key>
+    <integer>42</integer>
+    <key>versionMinor</key>
+    <integer>42</integer>
+    <key>xHeight</key>
+    <integer>501</integer>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/bracketleft.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/bracketleft.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b6bf45046
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/bracketleft.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="bracketleft" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="005B"/>
+  <outline>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="454" y="637" type="line"/>
+      <point x="324" y="637" type="line"/>
+      <point x="324" y="51" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="51" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="-10" type="line"/>
+      <point x="259" y="-10" type="line"/>
+      <point x="259" y="696" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="696" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/bracketright.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/bracketright.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6431af611
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/bracketright.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="bracketright" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="005D"/>
+  <outline>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="259" y="637" type="line"/>
+      <point x="259" y="696" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="696" type="line"/>
+      <point x="454" y="-10" type="line"/>
+      <point x="259" y="-10" type="line"/>
+      <point x="259" y="51" type="line"/>
+      <point x="389" y="51" type="line"/>
+      <point x="389" y="637" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/contents.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/contents.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..47862ecda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/contents.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>bracketleft</key>
+    <string>bracketleft.glif</string>
+    <key>bracketright</key>
+    <string>bracketright.glif</string>
+    <key>exclam</key>
+    <string>exclam.glif</string>
+    <key>hyphen</key>
+    <string>hyphen.glif</string>
+    <key>manual-component</key>
+    <string>manual-component.glif</string>
+    <key>space</key>
+    <string>space.glif</string>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/exclam.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/exclam.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5bc6d8c77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/exclam.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="exclam" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="0021"/>
+  <outline>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="238" y="182" type="line"/>
+      <point x="354" y="183" type="line"/>
+      <point x="414" y="585" type="line"/>
+      <point x="178" y="585" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="238" y="0" type="line"/>
+      <point x="354" y="0" type="line"/>
+      <point x="354" y="107" type="line"/>
+      <point x="238" y="107" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/hyphen.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/hyphen.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b2d57e97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/hyphen.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="hyphen" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="002D"/>
+  <outline>
+    <contour>
+      <point x="131" y="330" type="line"/>
+      <point x="131" y="250" type="line"/>
+      <point x="470" y="250" type="line"/>
+      <point x="470" y="330" type="line"/>
+    </contour>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/manual-component.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/manual-component.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1da63bcd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/manual-component.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="manual-component" format="2">
+  <advance width="600"/>
+  <unicode hex="003D"/>
+  <outline>
+    <component base="hyphen" yOffset="100"/>
+    <component base="hyphen"/>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/space.glif b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/space.glif
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c05cd73f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/glyphs/space.glif
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<glyph name="space" format="2">
+  <advance width="200"/>
+  <unicode hex="0020"/>
+  <outline>
+  </outline>
+</glyph>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/groups.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/groups.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..15368f4da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/groups.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>public.kern1.brackets</key>
+    <array>
+      <string>bracketleft</string>
+      <string>bracketright</string>
+    </array>
+    <key>public.kern2.brackets</key>
+    <array>
+      <string>bracketleft</string>
+      <string>bracketright</string>
+    </array>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/kerning.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/kerning.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..716f79663
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/kerning.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>bracketleft</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>bracketright</key>
+      <integer>-300</integer>
+    </dict>
+    <key>exclam</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>exclam</key>
+      <integer>-360</integer>
+      <key>hyphen</key>
+      <integer>20</integer>
+      <key>public.kern2.brackets</key>
+      <integer>-160</integer>
+    </dict>
+    <key>hyphen</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>hyphen</key>
+      <integer>-150</integer>
+    </dict>
+    <key>public.kern1.brackets</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>exclam</key>
+      <integer>-165</integer>
+    </dict>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/layercontents.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/layercontents.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b9c1a4f27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/layercontents.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <array>
+    <array>
+      <string>public.default</string>
+      <string>glyphs</string>
+    </array>
+  </array>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/lib.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/lib.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6d8314a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/lib.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>com.github.googlei18n.ufo2ft.filters</key>
+    <array>
+      <dict>
+        <key>name</key>
+        <string>eraseOpenCorners</string>
+        <key>namespace</key>
+        <string>glyphsLib.filters</string>
+        <key>pre</key>
+        <true/>
+      </dict>
+    </array>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFont.disablesAutomaticAlignment</key>
+    <false/>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFont.useNiceNames</key>
+    <integer>1</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.customValue</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.customValue1</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.customValue2</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.customValue3</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.iconName</key>
+    <string></string>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.weightValue</key>
+    <integer>400</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.customParameter.GSFontMaster.widthValue</key>
+    <integer>100</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.fontMasterOrder</key>
+    <integer>0</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.weightValue</key>
+    <integer>400</integer>
+    <key>com.schriftgestaltung.widthValue</key>
+    <integer>100</integer>
+    <key>public.glyphOrder</key>
+    <array>
+      <string>space</string>
+      <string>exclam</string>
+      <string>hyphen</string>
+      <string>bracketleft</string>
+      <string>bracketright</string>
+      <string>manual-component</string>
+    </array>
+    <key>public.postscriptNames</key>
+    <dict>
+      <key>manual-component</key>
+      <string>manualcomponent</string>
+    </dict>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/metainfo.plist b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/metainfo.plist
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7b8b34ac6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar-Regular.ufo/metainfo.plist
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
+<plist version="1.0">
+  <dict>
+    <key>creator</key>
+    <string>com.github.fonttools.ufoLib</string>
+    <key>formatVersion</key>
+    <integer>3</integer>
+  </dict>
+</plist>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar.designspace b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar.designspace
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b955de11c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/testdata/designspace_from_glyphs/WghtVar.designspace
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
+<designspace format="5.0">
+  <axes>
+    <axis tag="wght" name="Weight" minimum="400" maximum="700" default="400"/>
+  </axes>
+  <sources>
+    <source filename="WghtVar-Regular.ufo" name="WghtVar Regular" familyname="WghtVar" stylename="Regular">
+      <lib copy="1"/>
+      <groups copy="1"/>
+      <features copy="1"/>
+      <info copy="1"/>
+      <location>
+        <dimension name="Weight" xvalue="400"/>
+      </location>
+    </source>
+    <source filename="WghtVar-Bold.ufo" name="WghtVar Bold" familyname="WghtVar" stylename="Bold">
+      <location>
+        <dimension name="Weight" xvalue="700"/>
+      </location>
+    </source>
+  </sources>
+  <instances>
+    <instance name="WghtVar Regular" familyname="WghtVar" stylename="Regular" filename="instance_ufos/WghtVar-Regular.ufo" stylemapfamilyname="Wght Var" stylemapstylename="regular">
+      <location>
+        <dimension name="Weight" xvalue="400"/>
+      </location>
+    </instance>
+    <instance name="WghtVar Bold" familyname="WghtVar" stylename="Bold" filename="instance_ufos/WghtVar-Bold.ufo" stylemapfamilyname="Wght Var" stylemapstylename="bold">
+      <location>
+        <dimension name="Weight" xvalue="700"/>
+      </location>      
+    </instance>
+  </instances>
+</designspace>
diff --git a/resources/testdata/glyphs2/WghtVar.glyphs b/resources/testdata/glyphs2/WghtVar.glyphs
index 1e277cd7b..82a4ad937 100644
--- a/resources/testdata/glyphs2/WghtVar.glyphs
+++ b/resources/testdata/glyphs2/WghtVar.glyphs
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 {
 .appVersion = "3151";
 DisplayStrings = (
-"-",
-"!!--"
+"![]!"
 );
 copyright = "Copy!";
 customParameters = (
@@ -84,7 +83,7 @@ unicode = 0020;
 },
 {
 glyphname = exclam;
-lastChange = "2023-06-05 23:22:51 +0000";
+lastChange = "2023-06-07 22:35:08 +0000";
 layers = (
 {
 layerId = m01;
@@ -175,6 +174,100 @@ width = 600;
 unicode = 002D;
 },
 {
+glyphname = bracketleft;
+lastChange = "2023-06-07 22:37:02 +0000";
+layers = (
+{
+layerId = m01;
+paths = (
+{
+closed = 1;
+nodes = (
+"324 637 LINE",
+"324 51 LINE",
+"454 51 LINE",
+"454 -10 LINE",
+"259 -10 LINE",
+"259 696 LINE",
+"454 696 LINE",
+"454 637 LINE"
+);
+}
+);
+width = 600;
+},
+{
+layerId = "E09E0C54-128D-4FEA-B209-1B70BEFE300B";
+paths = (
+{
+closed = 1;
+nodes = (
+"324 629 LINE",
+"324 58 LINE",
+"454 58 LINE",
+"454 -17 LINE",
+"243 -17 LINE",
+"243 704 LINE",
+"454 704 LINE",
+"454 629 LINE"
+);
+}
+);
+width = 600;
+}
+);
+leftKerningGroup = brackets;
+rightKerningGroup = brackets;
+unicode = 005B;
+},
+{
+glyphname = bracketright;
+lastChange = "2023-06-07 22:35:47 +0000";
+layers = (
+{
+layerId = m01;
+paths = (
+{
+closed = 1;
+nodes = (
+"259 696 LINE",
+"454 696 LINE",
+"454 -10 LINE",
+"259 -10 LINE",
+"259 51 LINE",
+"389 51 LINE",
+"389 637 LINE",
+"259 637 LINE"
+);
+}
+);
+width = 600;
+},
+{
+layerId = "E09E0C54-128D-4FEA-B209-1B70BEFE300B";
+paths = (
+{
+closed = 1;
+nodes = (
+"243 704 LINE",
+"454 704 LINE",
+"454 -17 LINE",
+"243 -17 LINE",
+"243 58 LINE",
+"373 58 LINE",
+"373 629 LINE",
+"243 629 LINE"
+);
+}
+);
+width = 600;
+}
+);
+leftKerningGroup = brackets;
+rightKerningGroup = brackets;
+unicode = 005D;
+},
+{
 glyphname = "manual-component";
 lastChange = "2022-12-01 04:57:39 +0000";
 layers = (
@@ -210,15 +303,25 @@ unicode = 003D;
 );
 kerning = {
 m01 = {
+bracketleft = {
+bracketright = -300;
+};
 exclam = {
+"@MMK_R_brackets" = -160;
 exclam = -360;
 hyphen = 20;
 };
 hyphen = {
 hyphen = -150;
 };
+"@MMK_L_brackets" = {
+exclam = -165;
+};
 };
 "E09E0C54-128D-4FEA-B209-1B70BEFE300B" = {
+bracketleft = {
+bracketright = -150;
+};
 exclam = {
 exclam = -100;
 };
diff --git a/resources/testdata/glyphs3/WghtVar.glyphs b/resources/testdata/glyphs3/WghtVar.glyphs
index 22ec2e3ec..b3f879b9f 100644
--- a/resources/testdata/glyphs3/WghtVar.glyphs
+++ b/resources/testdata/glyphs3/WghtVar.glyphs
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@
 .appVersion = "3151";
 .formatVersion = 3;
 DisplayStrings = (
-"-",
-"!!--"
+"![]!"
 );
 axes = (
 {
@@ -93,7 +92,7 @@ unicode = 32;
 },
 {
 glyphname = exclam;
-lastChange = "2023-06-05 23:22:51 +0000";
+lastChange = "2023-06-07 22:35:08 +0000";
 layers = (
 {
 layerId = m01;
@@ -184,6 +183,100 @@ width = 600;
 unicode = 45;
 },
 {
+glyphname = bracketleft;
+kernLeft = brackets;
+kernRight = brackets;
+lastChange = "2023-06-07 22:37:02 +0000";
+layers = (
+{
+layerId = m01;
+shapes = (
+{
+closed = 1;
+nodes = (
+(324,637,l),
+(324,51,l),
+(454,51,l),
+(454,-10,l),
+(259,-10,l),
+(259,696,l),
+(454,696,l),
+(454,637,l)
+);
+}
+);
+width = 600;
+},
+{
+layerId = "E09E0C54-128D-4FEA-B209-1B70BEFE300B";
+shapes = (
+{
+closed = 1;
+nodes = (
+(324,629,l),
+(324,58,l),
+(454,58,l),
+(454,-17,l),
+(243,-17,l),
+(243,704,l),
+(454,704,l),
+(454,629,l)
+);
+}
+);
+width = 600;
+}
+);
+unicode = 91;
+},
+{
+glyphname = bracketright;
+kernLeft = brackets;
+kernRight = brackets;
+lastChange = "2023-06-07 22:35:47 +0000";
+layers = (
+{
+layerId = m01;
+shapes = (
+{
+closed = 1;
+nodes = (
+(259,696,l),
+(454,696,l),
+(454,-10,l),
+(259,-10,l),
+(259,51,l),
+(389,51,l),
+(389,637,l),
+(259,637,l)
+);
+}
+);
+width = 600;
+},
+{
+layerId = "E09E0C54-128D-4FEA-B209-1B70BEFE300B";
+shapes = (
+{
+closed = 1;
+nodes = (
+(243,704,l),
+(454,704,l),
+(454,-17,l),
+(243,-17,l),
+(243,58,l),
+(373,58,l),
+(373,629,l),
+(243,629,l)
+);
+}
+);
+width = 600;
+}
+);
+unicode = 93;
+},
+{
 glyphname = "manual-component";
 lastChange = "2022-12-01 04:57:39 +0000";
 layers = (
@@ -220,15 +313,25 @@ unicode = 61;
 );
 kerningLTR = {
 m01 = {
+bracketleft = {
+bracketright = -300;
+};
 exclam = {
+"@MMK_R_brackets" = -160;
 exclam = -360;
 hyphen = 20;
 };
 hyphen = {
 hyphen = -150;
 };
+"@MMK_L_brackets" = {
+exclam = -165;
+};
 };
 "E09E0C54-128D-4FEA-B209-1B70BEFE300B" = {
+bracketleft = {
+bracketright = -150;
+};
 exclam = {
 exclam = -100;
 };