Is choosing the right typeface one of your biggest burdens when working on a new project? If yes, read along for some great advice that will help you pick a font that will make your next project stand out.
There are thousands of paid and free fonts now available for creatives to choose from. However, when it comes to the right typeface there are many factors to take into account. In this post, we will be presenting the major points that you should consider when selecting a typeface for your next project.
END GOAL, MESSAGE, OR PURPOSE OF YOUR DESIGN
The most effective font choices translate the purpose of the design. The right font will speak in the language of the target audience. Your typeface should represent the style expected by the audience for which the design is intended. Choose a font that will make your design evoke audience emotions. Consider the function of the font and the context in which it will be used.
BRAND
Every font has specific design intent, communicates certain attributes and has its own personality. Serif fonts portray tradition, history, reliability, and safety; sans serif fonts are modern, contemporary and clean; script fonts add a sense of feminism, romance, grace, and elegance. Make sure the chosen font resonates with your brand.
Examples of fonts based on type of business:
Finance - Clarendon, Bembo, FF Kievit, Andrew Samuels, Gotham Narrow
Wedding Photography — Roses, Please!, Anisha Script, Hunter River, Beautify
Winery - Burgues Script, Adios Script Pro, Darleston
Fashion Blogger - Gotham Thin, Helvetica Neue Thin, Geosans Light
Design Agency - Gotham Black, Montserrat Bold, Helvetica Bold
IT Company - Big John/Slim Joe, Moon, BW Quinta, Simplifica, Pier
LEGIBILITY OR READABILITY
Readability is the most important thing in design. If your chosen typography is readable, then you’re already ahead of 50% of the competition. The body text is the part of your design that needs to be most readable. To test if a typeface is readable set your copy to 10px - if you can tell what the text says you’ve chosen a readable typeface.
Free Font Typefaces Most Suitable for Body Text
1. Bifocals Grotesk
2. Vision
3. RomanSerif
4. PT SANS
5. Alte Haas Grotesk
Free Font Typefaces Most Suitable for Display Text
1. Geizer
2. Ridgeline 201
3. Konstant Grotesk
4. Eva
5. Terrain
INDUSTRY TRENDS
If you’d like to be a successful designer, choosing the right font is something you need to master (and not something you only think about when you need to use it).
Keep current with the latest practices regarding fonts and font usage, read typography blogs and watch out for good and bad examples of font combinations in the wild.