Font Facts to Fine-Tune Your Web Design

Web design is one of those never-ending topics that is continuously evolving. There’s always room for improvement and new ideas and trends are constantly coming along. According to web design trends, fonts are a prominent feature that greatly influences the success of your website. The types of fonts you use, and how you use them, can make all the difference.

So here are a few font facts to take into consideration as you fine-tune your web design:

Size Matters

Choose your font sizes carefully as this is a very clear indicator of a text’s importance. Extremes on both ends of the scale are effective in catching the attention of your users. Big bold fonts are often used for headlines or hero images. The size and font you use for your brand name and slogan inevitably become associated with your brand image. Although big and bold definitely commands attention, don’t rule out the power and intrigue of small fonts. Remember,

sometimes less is more. Small dark, particularly black fonts are especially effective when surrounded by negative or white space.

Serif or Sans-serif

Serif typefaces are making a marked comeback as the elegance of the footed fonts trumps the plainer sans-serif choices. A serif font is great for lending an air of subtle sophistication to headlines and titles but is also a popular choice for content paragraphs as it tends to be smoother and easier to read. So if you want to add a touch of grace and style to your website, look for a serif font to match your company brand and ethos.

How Many Fonts to Use

With so many fantastic font choices available it can be tempting to sprinkle a whole bunch of them across your website. Do your best to resist this temptation, as too many different typefaces can become confusing, distracting, or worse, crazy looking. Depending on the nature of your business, it’s usually best to go with two or three fonts and use them consistently throughout your website. Allow yourself to be more creative and playful when it comes to titles, headings, and calls to action, but choose something that is easy to read for longer sections of text. Try out various combinations until you find a few that work for you.

Creative and Artistic Typography

This is where the possibilities are really endless and you can experiment with transforming fonts in creative ways to add an artistic flair to your web design. However, don’t detract from the meaning of the words, and always make sure that the text is still legible. Here are just a few ideas on creative font trends and techniques to get you going:

• Handwritten Fonts: A personal touch is impactful, hence the rise in popularity of handwritten fonts. Depending on your type of business, this kind of casual, charming approach might be just what you need in your web design to up your conversions.

• Watercolor Fonts: This option works really well when the handwritten fonts are styled with a watercolor typeface. It gives the effect of paintbrush strokes and can be especially useful when you’re going for a dainty or elegant effect.

• Geometric Fonts: On the other end of the spectrum we have geometric fonts which are bold with clean, straight lines. They give a modern, even futuristic look, and are great for engineering, science or technology websites.

• Vintage Slab Fonts: The appeal of vintage slab and script fonts is both contemporary and classic. Whether ornate or rough and hand-drawn, there’s something appealing about this style which is gaining ground with brands and inesses.

• Highlights: There’s nothing like a little splash of neon color behind a font to grab the attention of readers. Highlights can be great, especially when you consider that most of your readers will skim or scan through your web page.

• Horizontal and Vertical Text: Why not break away from the regular horizontal format with some vertically placed text? This literally turns heads and can give your web design the added impact that you need.

• Scattered Text: This can be risky in terms of readability, but it is one of the rising trends. The scattered text certainly entices those who like to piece things together, and it can be highly impactful given the right context, message, and meaning.

• Superimposing Words Over an Image: Using an image as a background with a typed message in the foreground is another growing trend. This works well when the image is not too busy, and the font is clearly readable.

With these tips in mind, remember that whatever fonts you choose, they need to represent your brand and be geared toward your target audience. Fonts are an excellent means of presenting yourself and your business to the world. So choose wisely as you pick your make your choice, whether you want to portray class and tradition, modern minimalism, or any other style. Use these font facts and tips to fine-tune your web design and improve your success rate.