My 5 Favorite “Google Fonts” Typefaces
Hey everyone! Today I’d like to talk a bit about Google Fonts. As many web designers might tell you, one of the best resources out there is the plethora of free, open license typefaces Google has provided. As you might expect, they’re aptly named “Google Fonts.”
While there are certainly some stinkers in the Google Fonts library, there are also some really great typefaces that are available to everyone for the low low price of free. So today, I’m going to talk about my 5 favorite Google Fonts and maybe show them in action a bit.
Montserrat
Montserrat is not only one of my favorite typefaces included in Google Fonts library, it’s also one of my favorite typefaces in general. I’m a sucker for geometric sans serif fonts and this one fits the bill to a T for me.
Montserrat was made by an Argentinian designer named Julieta Ulanovsky in an attempt to “rescue the beauty of urban typography that emerged in the first half of the twentieth century.” And frankly, I think she was successful. The typeface itself is fairly neutral, reflecting the readability required of any “urban” font, but because it’s geometric, it’s got a unique flair to it that makes it not as neutral or overly familiar as many neo-grotesque fonts like Univers or Helvetica.
I often like using Montserrat in projects that call for a sleek, younger look. It’s a very eye catching choice that works well in pretty much any color. For that reason, I personally think it works best as a header. As far as its use for body copy goes, I think it loses some of its appeal when it’s shown at smaller point sizes, so I’d avoid using it that way if you can (that’s just my opinion though). While Montserrat’s an attractive typeface, it can be a little bit of a niche choice.
Bold, dynamic, and geometrically pleasing, there’s a ton to like about this typeface. Here are some examples of it in use:
Playfair Display
While I’m mostly a lover of sans serifs for their clean and simplistic look, serif fonts need love too! So, changing things up, the next typeface I’d like to talk about is Playfair Display. This is another typeface I like quite a bit and it definitely deserves to be talked about.
While Montserrat is inherently designed to look modern, Playfair is not. As Google notes, its design lends itself to a period where “Developments in printing technology, ink, and paper making, made it possible to print letterforms of high contrast and delicate hairlines.” The typeface itself has great contrast in the weight of its strokes which makes it very pleasing to look at. Stylistically, Playfair is similar to the tried and true Baskerville and is a great web-based alternative.
When used right, Playfair Display is a stunning choice and very elegant. I personally enjoy using it in projects that call for something that is bold while still maintaining a refined and smart aesthetic. In my opinion, Playfair is, like Montserrat, best used in headers. When its scaled down, the thin parts of the font can become hard to read and readability is definitely something that needs to be considered for body text.
Overall, Playfair Display is a stylish and tasteful typeface and you can rarely go wrong in using it. Here are some examples:
Lato
Another sans serif this time, the next typeface on my list is Lato. This one is considered a humanist typeface, which means that it looks a little more “human-like” (differences in stroke weight, flourishes etc.) than other sans serif typefaces.
Lato was created by the Polish designer Łukasz Dziedzic and, according to Google, it “was conceived as a set of corporate fonts for a large client — who in the end decided to go in different stylistic direction.” In my opinion, this is evident simply by looking at it. It’s a very standard typeface and has a familiar and clean look to it. It’s also highly versatile and can be used in a variety of situations.
I like using Lato when I’m looking for an easy to read and modern typeface. If you ask me, that’s all that’s really required for using it right. It’s such a versatile typeface that it’s very difficult to use it “incorrectly.” Not only does it look good as a header, it’s also great for body text. I particularly like using the lighter weights that are available.
With something as adaptable as Lato, you’re going to find yourself using it all the time. It’s a great choice and a great typeface. Here it is in the wild:
Roboto Slab
Roboto Slab, as the name suggests, is a slab serif typeface. Essentially, a slab serif is a font that has thick, blocky serifs (compare it to Playfair Display to get a sense of what I mean).
Roboto Slab is a part of the Roboto family of typefaces and is often best paired with its “cousin” Roboto (which is a sans serif). Like the name might suggest, Roboto Slab’s body is largely geometric, but it also features “friendly and open curves” according to Google — making it a little more warm and unique than something that’s purely geometric and cold.
Roboto Slab can be used when you need something that is bold and can grab someone’s attention quickly. Or you could use it when you’re looking for something that rides the line between casual and professional. Unfortunately, Roboto Slab also doesn’t work very well as body copy because it’s missing italics, (probably because the sans serif version is intended for that purpose instead) although you will still see it used that way sometimes. However, it does make for a great heading, if you ask me.
Roboto Slab is a somewhat affable choice with many of the aesthetically pleasing qualities of a geometric typeface. Here are some examples of Roboto Slab in use.
Abril Fatface
The last font on my list today is Abril Fatface. This is a modern serif font and is actually part of a family of fonts called Abril. However, the Fatface version is the only one available in the Google Fonts library.
Abril Fatface is “inspired by the heavy titling fonts used in advertising posters in 19th century Britain and France” meaning that its primary goal is to grab attention quickly. Because of how prominent the font is and how thick and bold some of the strokes are, I’d say it’s successful in this regard. This is especially true when its displayed at large point sizes.
Building off of this, it should be clear that Abril Fatface is a font that’s best used as a header (see a theme, yet?). Like Playfair Display, some of the strokes are so thin that trying to shrink it down to body copy would make it virtually illegible. I’d use it in a project that calls for a crisp, stylish typeface where grabbing people’s attention is key.
If you’re looking for a striking font that works well at large sizes, this could be exactly the font you’re looking for. Here are some final examples:
Final Thoughts
There are a ton of typefaces and fonts available in the Google Fonts library, and these examples should by no means be considered the only good options available. If you’re just starting out in the world of design, I encourage you to download the entirety of the Google Fonts library. You’ll have a huge collection to start with and it can prove to be an incredibly useful resource for you (I know it definitely was for me). You can find a link to download all of them here.
If you’re not a designer and you read this anyway, I hope my rambling was informative and interesting! Either way, thanks for reading.
Until next time!
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