Typefaces & Fonts Do More Than Transmit Words

Do the typefaces and fonts you choose for your brand materials matter? As long as it’s in a language the audience understands, they’ll get the intended message, right? Wrong. Typefaces and fonts are essentially the shapes of the letters. Shapes are multi-sensory, meaning they affect more than one of your senses and can easily elicit emotions, even before you read the word. For example: Times New Roman comes off as reliable, and Comic Sans comes across as childish and whimsical. Imagine for a minute reading the New York Times printed in Comic Sans. Would you take any of the articles seriously, or even pick up the paper at the newsstand in the first place? Probably not.

It is important to choose the typefaces and fonts for your brand carefully. Audiences will assume a lot about your brand based on your choices. Are you formal, traditional, modern, or feminine? Typography choices should not turn your ideal customers away. A great designer will help you decide which characteristics you want your brand to convey — then, ensure your brand’s typography is legibly presenting your organization’s content and personality.