What to look out for when choosing a new typeface
Choosing a typeface for your project is no easy task.
While it’s easy to ‘pick one’, the hard part is picking the right one for your project. There are so many type foundries and resources to choose from that it can often seem quite overwhelming! How do I pair my fonts? Serif or Sans Serif? If you’re already starting to feel confused at reading those funny words, maybe here’s a good place to start — The Battle of the Faces: Serif vs. Sans Serif.
While your computer comes with a range of default fonts in your font book, these fonts aren’t always appropriate to use in your digital Client Projects. First, you may not have the license to do so, and second, you may not have the correct file type needed for the web.
So why is typography important in digital design, and how can we find the best typeface for our project?
What’s in a typeface?
Typography is more than just letters and numbers on your screen. While to a non-designer sans-serif fonts may appear to look the same, they’re dramatically different.
‘But isn’t there only one way to draw an A?’
Definitely not! Letterers and calligraphers have been drawing A’s for hundreds of years. It’s often a combination of differences in the finer details that result in a letter form that looks completely different to another typeface.
Choosing a typeface for a project should be more than just browsing a list of them and picking one. You should be carefully considering the impact that the typeface could have on the emotion and receptiveness of the project.
Here’s a few things to ask yourself when choosing a typeface:
– What attributes of the brand do I want the typeface to help communicate?
– What style works best for this project/brand?
– How legible does the typeface need to be?
– In what contexts will the typeface be used?
Wait, fonts come in different file formats?
Yep — they do! Depending on what you want to use them for, fonts come in a variety of file formats and even packages.
For example you could purchase a Desktop License, Web License, or even both. Make sure you always read the licensing terms before purchasing so that you can be sure you’re purchasing legally for the correct use case — particularly when you’re looking to use it online.
True Type Fonts (.ttf)
Created as part of a joint effort by Apple and Microsoft in the ‘80’s, .ttf font file are your standard Desktop font files. When you download a .ttf file, the package often comes with the information and data needed for both the digital screen, as well as the printer.
Open Type Fonts (.otf)
More modern than .ttf and often referred to as ‘better’, .otf font files have all the ‘features’ of .ttf font files however they also come with additional advanced type settings such as:
- Ligatures
- Glyphs
- Small caps
- Alternate characters
- Old-style figures
Web Open Font Format (.woff)
This refers to a font that has been built for the web. They’re faster to load and often use less bandwidth as it’s compressed.
What makes a good typeface?
Typefaces allow you to embrace originality. While you can pick a free font of Google Fonts — avoid overused typefaces. Choosing a unique typeface helps add personality and uniqueness to your project.
Be careful of the source of the typeface you want to use — you want to look for a typeface that’s high quality and designed with a high standard and includes all the glyphs you’ll need, such as symbols or small caps. Well known type foundries are the way to go if you want to be sure you’re purchasing a typeface of high standard.
If you really need something unique, working with a typeface designer would be the way to go. However this is obviously not the cheapest option as creating a font is incredibly time consuming.
Type Foundries
Below is a short list of type foundries that are worth considering for your next project. They’re typefaces are of good quality, and they’re made up of small teams which means you get good support!
Regular Bold Italic
A collaboration between Jeff Schreiber and Timo Kuilder, two Dutch graphic designers with a passion for letter design. With a small but beautiful range of affordable typefaces, you download a sample them for free.
The Designer’s Foundry
A wonderful quirky and friendly typeface, The Designer’s Foundry was created by Daniel McQueen in the South Island of New Zealand. They have a broad range of fonts from all different types and styles. In fact, the typeface you’re reading right now is Averta from TDF.
Bold Monday
A nice collection of display typefaces — perhaps you’re looking for something unique and endearing. The even offer specific licenses for if you want to use the typeface in an e-book or an app.
Klim
Founded in 2005 by Kris Sowersby, Klim holds a range of beautiful typefaces for modern use. Well known for his award winning typefaces National and Feijoa, Kris wrote about why we even need new typefaces in this day and age.
Letters from Sweden
A catalogue filled exclusively with typefaces designed by the Swedish, Letters from Sweden has a range of typefaces with a Scandinavian twist. My personal favourite is Lab Grotesque.
Typography is no joke. As you can see, there are full time type designers that are extremely experienced and refined in this craft. The typeface you choose for a project can have a huge influence on the look and feel at the end. Don’t overlook typefaces and definitely don’t underestimate the impact they can have.
Looking to dive more into the world of typography? Here’s some light reading and resources:
Practical Typography — a very in depth guide
What font? — a handy browser extension that determines what font is being used
Web Typography 101 — a great starting resource on web fonts
Kern Type — a kerning game to practice your kerning
Why we need new typefaces — an opinion piece by Klim on the importance of new typefaces
Web font loading patterns — a basic guide
