In general, each category of font will evoke these feelings: They are visually appealing but lack readability. Script fonts are mostly decorative and appear to be handwritten. Sans Serif (literally: “without the serif”) has no lines or strokes to embellish the letter. Serif fonts are usually older, slightly more decorative than Sans Serif with little lines or strokes that extend from each letter. There are three main categories of fonts. The Main Categories of Fonts and Their Uses Of course these two qualities, readability and aesthetic appeal, aren’t always in conflict, but they can be. If the site consists mostly of images, then the aesthetic appeal of the lettering is uppermost. If the website consists mostly of written content with small lettering, then the readability of the font is paramount. So choose a font that evokes a feeling that matches the personality of your business.īut there are other considerations when choosing a font as well. Therefore, picking the right font is crucial to convincing readers that your site is the right place for them.įor example, if you are a law firm you want to project order, stability, power, and tradition, you wouldn’t choose this font for your law firm logo. Research shows that readers take only 0.5 seconds to form an opinion about a website, and 94% of that opinion is based on the site’s design. So first and foremost, the font you choose must evoke feelings in harmony with the ideas you are trying to convey. The Visual Language: The feelings and meaning created by the visual appearance of the lettering.The Verbal Language: The meaning of the words.

In fact, all these components of a website create a feeling, a mood… they must all contribute harmoniously to that feeling, especially the font. It’s as important as the pictures they use, the shapes and colors they choose, and the composition they create. The font chosen by a graphic designer is as important as the message they give. They are forms of art that stir our emotions. Fonts are more than just letters that spell out words and stimulate our minds.

Garamond typeface category