A great brand has the perk of instant recognizability and the power to get consumers and fans to immediately connect the displayed visuals with a set of predefined values and evoke the desired emotions. One of the key elements of these visuals are recognizable fonts that have the ability to denote the specific implications that are unique to the product which the buyers are interacting with. Here are some of pop culture’s most iconic and easily recognizable fonts, that have become an essential part of the consumers’ experience.
Stephen King
The retro font that is most notably connected to the king of horror’s ample body of work has become a staple of the creepy genre. With its consistent use on covers of King’s classics it has become synonymous with eighties flavored horror stories and terrifying monsters.
The fonts significance and creepy connotations are so clear, that it has been utilized to convey the spooky supernatural vibe of shows and movies even outside of Stephen King’s opus. One of the shiniest examples is the sci-fi show “Stranger Things” which used it to signal coming of age motives and otherworldly monsters, both of which are common themes in King’s work.
Harry Potter
Few things evoke such whimsically inspirational vibes of J.K Rowling’s magical universe, as the iconic font, which has been used on covers and movie posters alike.
The craggy lettering, with the lightning bolt-shaped letter “P” has become a very important part of all sorts of Harry Potter merchandise, and is used for chapter titles even in the most recent editions of the book series.
Star Wars
The instantly recognizable Star Wars logo we know today is a product of a long process of tweaks and overhauls. Originally, the font went from Furtura Display, to lettering based on the Precis font family, to Helvetica.
The font of the logo we all now know and love, was the work of Suzi Race, who was approached by Lucas with the idea for a font that looked “very fascist”. The logo, which had been designed originally for the cover of a Fox brochure, has been used for the franchise since 1977.
Disney
Waltograph — the widely recognized symbol of the Walt Disney Company evokes feelings of excitement and childlike wonder in children and adults alike.
Contrary to popular belief, the font is not based on the actual handwriting of Walt Disney; rather, it is an extrapolation of the Walt Disney Company’s corporate logotype, which was based on a stylized version of Walt Disney’s autograph.
The Simpsons
The Simpson’s widely loved font, with its cooky mix of upper and lowercase letters, was fashioned after the handwriting of the show’s creator, Matt Groening.
As the cartoon became a staple of nineties pop culture, the font, that resonates very well with the overall message and tone of the show, became a quintessential part of the Simpsons aesthetic, and was featured on all sorts of advertising and merchandise.
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