Design Match logo

Vocabulary

typefaces

A typeface is a set of one or more fonts with standard design features. The term “typeface” is often used interchangeably with “font family.” A typeface usually includes characters in various styles and weights, including regular, bold, italic, and sometimes other variations such as condensed or extended.

Some typefaces are designed for specific purposes, such as display typefaces that are intended for large headings or titles or text typefaces designed for use in body copy. There are also monospaced typefaces designed to create evenly spaced text.

When choosing a typeface for your project, it’s essential to consider the text’s purpose and the design’s overall tone. For example, a more severe or formal project might benefit from a classic serif typeface, while a more playful or modern design might do better with a sans serif typeface.

There are thousands of different typefaces available, so it can be daunting to try and choose the right one for your project. But with a little bit of research and trial-and-error, you should be able to find the perfect typeface for your needs.

The most famous typefaces

Helvetica

Helvetica is a sans serif typeface created in 1957 by Max Miedinger and Eduard Hoffmann. It’s one of the most popular typefaces in the world and is often used for corporate branding and signage.

Garamond

Garamond is a serif typeface designed in the 16th century by Claude Garamond. It’s considered to be one of the most beautiful and elegant typefaces ever created and is still popular today for print publications.

Bodoni

Bodoni is another popular serif typeface designed in the 18th century by Giambattista Bodoni. It’s known for its thin, pointed serifs and delicate letterforms and is often used for formal printing applications.

Arial

Arial is a sans serif typeface created in 1982 by Robin Nicholas and Patricia Saunders. It’s one of the most widely used typefaces in the world and is often recommended for use on web pages due to its compatibility with different browsers.

Times New Roman

Times New Roman is a serif typeface designed for newspaper printing in the early 20th century. It’s become one of the most popular typefaces for digital and print applications.

Comic Sans

Comic Sans is a sans serif typeface that was designed specifically for use in comic books. It’s known for its playful letterforms and has become one of the most widely recognized typefaces in the world.

Verdana

Verdana is a sans serif typeface designed in 1996 by Matthew Carter. It’s specially designed for computer screens and is widely considered one of the best typefaces for readability on screen.

Georgia

Georgia is a serif typeface that was designed in 1993 by Matthew Carter. It’s similar to Times New Roman but is specifically designed for use on computer screens. Georgia is often used for body copy on websites.

Trebuchet

Trebuchet is a sans serif typeface designed in 1996 by Vincent Connare. It’s known for its distinctively oblique letterforms and is often used for headlines and other display applications.

Courier

Courier is a monospaced typeface that was designed in the 19th century for use in typewriting applications. It’s become one of the most widely used typefaces in the world and is often used for code snippets and other technical applications.

When it comes to choosing a typeface, there are thousands of different options to choose from. But with a little research, you should be able to find the perfect typeface for your project.

Get Design Tips

Get design tips for your startup straight to your inbox by subscribing. Join our community!