Font Psychology: How to Choose the Perfect Typeface for Your Project

Do you find it difficult to select the ideal font for your project? Typography plays a vital role in enhancing or diminishing your user interface. Opting for the appropriate font can aid in creating the desired ambience and increasing brand recognition.

But with so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. That's why we at Helmsman Guide have put together a guide that will take you through the ins and outs of fonts and give you expert solutions on how to choose the perfect typeface for your project. Prepare to design an impressive user interface that will capture your audience's attention.

Psychology Behind Fonts

Different fonts can create unique associations and emotions for users. To give you an idea, here are some of the main types of fonts and the emotions they can convey:

Straight and Elongated Fonts:

This type of font can be a versatile option for many companies, regardless of the products or services they offer.

● Versatile fonts like Open Sans, Sans Serif, Arial, Helvetica, and Univers are good for media projects and serious business services.

● These fonts convey the mood of your product without distracting users from the content.

● Non-standard fonts are better for advertising original products.

● You can differentiate your campaign from the competition and increase customer recall by using unconventional fonts.

Strict Square Fonts:

● Fonts with massive and strict shapes are typically used for posters of manufactured goods or technological products.

● Examples of these fonts include Sarpanch, Michroma, Saira, Russo One, Orbitron, and Exo.

Rounded Fonts:

● Rounded fonts evoke feelings of comfort and care in customers.

● Square-shaped fonts appear stricter in comparison.

● Examples of rounded fonts include Nunito Sans, Muli, Montserrat, and Nanum Gothic.

Italic Fonts With Vignettes:

This group of fonts is known for their lightness and beauty.

● Some fonts are popular for use in advertising aimed at women.

● Italics can make text easier to read, but may not convey the importance.

● Italics are commonly used for footnotes.

● Sign Painter is an example of an italic font with vignettes.

Cursive Fonts:

● Certain fonts are less readable and easily understood due to their height and shape.

● These fonts are often used to highlight exclusivity and originality in promoted products or services.

●  They are also seen in advertisements for legal counsel.

● Cursive fonts are intended to highlight the accuracy of information and engender confidence. 

● An example of a cursive font is Snell Roundhand.

Fancy Fonts:

● Use fancy fonts sparingly and only when necessary.

● They are best suited for thematic businesses like bars and restaurants.

● Avoid using them for advertising a hair salon or toy store.

● Lemon Tuesday is an example of a fancy font.

Font Combinations: Why Pick More Than One?

When using styled fonts in smaller sizes, they may not be readable but can still fit the overall vibe of the product. To ensure legibility, our design team selects secondary fonts that are simpler and easier to read. The two fonts need to complement each other and create a balanced look.

Font combinations can be successful if they have a similar appearance or if they are completely different, which is known as contrast in size, saturation, colour, and style.

Using too many fonts and styles in one User Interface is not recommended, as it may confuse users and make it difficult for them to focus. It's best to limit the number of fonts to two or three for each product to emphasise important information.

Why Do We Use Text Styles?

Fonts are not the only factor that affects how users perceive text. Other significant factors have an impact on it. Here are some examples:

● Size

● Type (italics, bold, regular)

● Letter spacing

● Paragraph formatting

● Structure of information

● Colour

● Visual hierarchy

Designers need to define the hierarchy to determine the appropriate text style. This involves organising the content into distinct types, such as:

● Headings

● Subheadings

●  Main text

Each type should be distinct from the others to help users focus on the main idea. This will prevent any confusion about whether the text is primary or secondary.

Next, the designer works on stylistic elements which can be used in texts:

● Bulleted list

● Numbered list

● Quotations

● Notes

● Text split into columns

● Image annotation

● Highlights

● Pictograms

● Sections

● Links

● Indentation (between sections, heading and text, paragraphs)

● Underline

Several stylistic elements can be useful for formatting text. It's crucial to assign a specific purpose to each format and ensure they don't overlap with one another.

To sum up,

Selecting the appropriate font is crucial for a successful design. The designer's primary responsibility is to choose a font that conveys the intended emotional message and aligns with your business objectives. It is equally important to establish guidelines for using the font and determine all possible scenarios for its application on a website or app. This will result in a better user experience.

Choosing the ideal font can be difficult, but it's essential to designing a user interface that works well and grabs users' attention. By understanding the psychological impact of fonts and adapting the tips provided in this article, you can choose the ideal typeface for your project and evoke the appropriate mood and emotion in your users.

At Helmsman, our designers analyse the topic, context, and potential audience to choose fonts that convey the desired emotional message. We also ensure that the font settings and placement are appropriate to promote easy comprehension and emphasise key points.

If you require assistance with your UI/UX design process, schedule a consultation with us today!