The typography you use on your site sets the tone for your brand. The right type shows your personality, broadcasts a message and helps define your brand as different from your competitors. There are over 43,000 typefaces for the Web. Figuring out which one to use for your website isn’t an easy task. Should you use one of the already created types, create your own type or tweak an existing type?
One way to choose the best typography for your business is by looking at what is on-trend. Styles change from year to year, so knowing what is hot at any given moment gives your company a fresh look. Staying on trend also helps you stand out from competitors who neglect this aspect of their overall design. Here are some current top typography trends to consider as you choose the perfect look for your design:
1. Hand Lettering
Hand lettering appears nearly everywhere you look these days. As graphic designers have jumped on this trend, brands realize the importance of being unique, which is what hand lettering allows. Hand lettering gives the designer complete control over the look of the type and works well for logos and advertisements. Think headlines when using hand lettering, as this type may not translate well for smaller print.
2. Serifs
One study showed that serif fonts add a level of credibility to your business. If you want consumers to trust you and see you as reliable, add some serif to your design. This type of subtle technique is particularly important for sites such as financial institutions or where you gather sensitive information from your customers.
3. Kinetic Typography
Kinetic typography is simply animated typography. It’s most often used in video and has been around for decades. People are falling in love with kinetic type again, though. Video marketing is on the rise, so it makes sense to use that type in the video.
However, you’re also competing with the thousands of other videos out there. Adding something unique to your video grabs users’ attention and helps you stand out from the competition.
4. Geometric
Geometric fonts are trending for 2018 and add an interesting look to a logo or site title. While you won’t want to use a geometric type often, using it as an accent works well. Geometric designs are modern looking, so if your company focuses on old-fashioned products, geometric isn’t the typeface for you. On the other hand, if you want customers to see you as a cutting-edge company that is up on the latest trends, then adding the first letter of your business name in a geometric font is a smart move.
5. Mobile Type
More than 72 percent of people now own a smartphone, so making sure your designs translate well on a smaller screen allows you to take advantage of all the traffic to your website, including mobile traffic. Most experts recommend serif fonts because they adapt to different platforms and their overall lines make for pleasant viewing on smaller screens.
6. San Serif
Save san serif for your body. Only 51 percent of websites use a san serif font in their headings. The additional embellishments of a serif are best saved for your headings and titles. San serif is a solid font for the body of your text. It is easy to read, adapts well to resizing and has fewer spacing issues with text that is pushed together with less white space surrounding it.
7. Big and Bold
Over and over again, a big and bold type is making headlines. Combining a bold font in a large size makes a statement. Just make sure that the larger size still adapts well to smaller screens or that you have another option for mobile devices. You’ve probably noticed more brands using wide, fat lettering for their logos and to announce various sales and specials.
8. Cutouts and Overlays
Typography design is no longer just flat letterings. Today’s designers use cutouts and overlays in their designs to show a background image through letters or add some additional graphics to lettering. It’s little wonder this type of typography is gaining popularity. Cutouts and overlays allow designers to create unique looks that no other brand has.
Think of some of the advertising you’ve seen in recent months in magazines. You’ve likely spotted at least one cutout/overlay type effect. The result is a three-dimensional look that pops off the page. Again, this method is best used for headings and logos and not for body text. You want to draw the eye quickly to an element using this technique but stick with a more traditional type for the body of your piece.
9. Color Fonts
Adding color to typography is growing in popularity and allows designers to add dimension to type in an easy way. Think of a type with rounded, fat letters that feature a variety of colors or gradients. The use of color adds a three-dimensional look without the hours of editing and creating overlays. Expect to see color used in fonts more and more often in logos and site titles.
Color type is a new trend that is just starting to take hold, so expect to see it more often. There is a bit of art to blending the colors to come up with a unique design that also matches the overall personality and color scheme of the brand. The colors must complement the rest of design, but also need to stand out and have contrast. Creating color fonts that work requires a bit of a juggling and balancing act.
Typography Trends
While it’s important to understand the current typography trends, don’t feel afraid to think outside the box and make up your own trend. The best trend isn’t a trend at all, but simply what works to show off your brand in its best light. Think about how the type on your website and in your marketing materials defines you as a brand and if it matches the image you want people to remember. The great thing about type is that you can change it if it isn’t working.
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