The 5 Favourite Fonts in Graphic Design
15 Mar 2015
Choosing a font for use on promotional material isn’t about pot luck or picking one out based on a fun-sounding name. The font you choose for any type of communication should be given considerable thought as it can have a huge impact on how the material is perceived, even altering its readability. With so many fonts to choose from, it can be incredibly tough knowing which is a good one, so understanding which fonts are best is worthwhile. Here are the top five fonts used in professional graphic design.
Helvetica
Helvetica has ruled the font roost for the past 50 years or so, and its use in design circles is as popular as ever today. Sleek and modernist, this classic typeface has enjoyed a ubiquitous presence and has been the font of choice for many big-name brands such as Microsoft, Apple, Nestle and Lufthansa. Although Helvetica is commonly used, many designers believe it doesn’t lend itself to all situations, and some even argue it is spaced too tightly.
Garamond
Garamond ranks highly as a leading font used in graphic design, and its timeless appeal and great readability make it a very user-friendly typeface. Garamond comes in various guises, but it tends to lend itself well for use in magazines and on websites. Garamond made headline news last year after claims were made that the US government could save millions in printing costs by switching from using Times New Roman font to Garamond. Whether Garamond uses less ink than other fonts, however, remains to be seen.
Futura
Futura is a font commonly found on design displays, logos, printed media, advertisements, films and corporate materials – pretty much anything where small text may be required. Based on geometric shapes that represent the Bauhaus design style of the early 1900s, Futura has enjoyed a long history, and its popularity is still evident today. It is considered sharp, striking and elegant, with an appearance of efficiency and an ability to create dramatic appeal.
Trajan
Anyone familiar with Hollywood movie adverts will probably be aware that one particular font seems to be used more than any other. This font goes by the name of Trajan, and as well as in film advertising, it is often found in communications that relate to history, marriage, religion or law. Although Trajan is often favoured for use in materials to depict another era, it is a relatively new font, created in 1989. It is based on Roman square capitals and is an old-style serif typeface.
Bodini
Bodini appeals to designers and is commonly considered a top choice of font to use. This serif typeface is considered an attractive font and lends itself well for use in decorative text, logos and even headlines. Bodini has a well-rounded geometric construction with contrasting thick and thin strokes and an underlying structure with flat, unbracketed serifs. Classic in style and enjoying a long history of use, Bodini is said to date back to 1740.
Whichever type of font you choose for your communications, it can mean the difference between success and failure. Knowing which fonts work well for a particular purpose is incredibly useful. A strong font choice can help to focus your communications, create the right impression, look aesthetically pleasing and maximise readability. Make sure you know how a font will translate from print to digital and vice versa, especially for multi-channel communications.