Top 10 Typography Design Tips to Make Your Designs Pop

Top 10 Typography Design Tips to Make Your Designs Pop

Great typography is the secret sauce behind any world-class design. 

Whether crafting a logo, designing a website, or assembling marketing materials, typography can make or break your project.

The truth is that typography can be tricky. There are so many fonts, styles, and rules to remember. And if you're not a seasoned designer, it's easy to end up with something that looks amateurish.

But here's the good news: You don't need to be a typography ninja to create designs that wow. I have ten easy-to-implement typography tips that can take your work from bland to brilliant. And I will share them with you today based on my experience running a branding and design agency called Inkbot Design.

Before we dive in, let me tell you a quick story. When I first started Inkbot Design, I knew typography was important, but I didn't appreciate it. I remember one of my first clients, a local entrepreneur, launching a new product.

She came to me with a vision for her brand and marketing materials, and I got to work. I chose some nice, modern fonts, put together a slick-looking design, and sent it to her for approval.

Boy, was I in for a rude awakening? 😅 Her response was…less than enthusiastic. “It looks nice,” she said, “but the typography doesn't feel right. Can we try something different?”

Oof. That one stung. I quickly realised that typography was more than just an afterthought but a make-or-break element of any successful design. From that point on, I made it a priority to level up my typography skills.

And you know what? It paid off. Not only did I start producing designs that my clients loved, but I also found that my work was attracting more high-quality leads. People were drawn to the professionalism and polish of my typography-focused designs.

So, if you're ready to take your designs to the next level, read on. Here are my top 10 typography design tips that are guaranteed to make your work stand out:

1. Choose Fonts That Reflect Your Brand

The fonts you use in your designs say a lot about your brand. Are you going for a modern, minimalist vibe? Or something more classic and elegant?

Whatever the case, your font choices must align with your brand's personality and aesthetic. After all, you wouldn't want to use a fun, playful font for a law firm's website, would you?

When selecting fonts, consider the overall “feel” you're going for. Is it professional? Sophisticated? Edgy? Whimsical? Browse font libraries like Google Fonts or Adobe Fonts, and pay close attention to the personality and characteristics of each option.

Also, stick to a consistent font pairing throughout your design work. This helps create a cohesive, polished look. A good rule of thumb is to pair a serif font (like Georgia or Baskerville) with a sans-serif font (like Helvetica or Open Sans).

2. Prioritise Legibility

No matter how visually stunning your design is, you will lose your audience if the text is hard to read. That's why legibility should be one of your top priorities regarding typography.

When choosing fonts, opt for clean, clear, and easy on the eyes. Avoid overly decorative or script-like fonts, as they can be challenging to read, especially in smaller sizes.

It's also important to pay attention to font size and line spacing (also known as leading). As a general rule, aim for a font size of at least 16px for body text, and make sure there's enough space between lines to prevent the text from feeling cramped.

And remember contrast! Ensure enough contrast between your font and background colour to ensure maximum readability. A good rule of thumb is to use dark or light text on a dark background.

3. Establish a Typographic Hierarchy

Achieving a visually appealing and organised design is all about creating a clear typographic hierarchy. This means using different font sizes, weights, and styles to denote the importance and relationship between text elements.

For example, you might use a large, bold headline to grab attention, followed by more minor subheadings to break up the content. Then, use a standard font size for your body text and an even smaller size for things like captions or footnotes.

By establishing this hierarchy, you're guiding the reader's eye and making it easy for them to scan and digest your content. It also adds a sense of structure and professionalism to your design.

4. Kern and Space Thoughtfully

Kerning and letter spacing are two of the more subtle yet impactful elements of excellent typography. Kerning refers to adjusting space between individual letter pairs while letter-spacing (tracking) deals with the overall spacing between all the letters in a word or line of text.

Getting these elements right can significantly affect your typography's overall look and feel. Too much kerning or tracking can make your text look cramped and unnatural, while too little can make it feel spaced out and disjointed.

The key is to find the perfect balance. Experiment with different kerning and tracking adjustments until your text feels cohesive and easily read. Pay close attention to letter pairs that need more or less spacing, like “To” or “Wa”.

5. Optimise for Mobile

In today's mobile-first world, your typography must look just as good (if not better) on a small screen as on a larger desktop display.

When designing for mobile, keep font sizes readable, choose simple and clean typefaces, and ensure there's enough white space and line height to prevent the text from feeling cramped.

You'll also want to pay close attention to line length. Aim for around 45-75 characters per line, as this is the optimal range for readability. Any longer, your readers will have to work harder to follow along.

And remember to test, test, test! Preview your designs on different devices and screen sizes to ensure your typography looks sharp no matter where it's viewed.

6. Embrace Negative Space

Negative space, or the empty areas surrounding your text, is just as important as the text itself. When used strategically, negative space can enhance the overall impact of your typography.

By incorporating generous amounts of white space around your text, you create a sense of airiness and sophistication. It also helps direct the reader's eye to the most critical information.

Don't be afraid to let your text “breathe” a bit. Experiment with wider margins, increased line spacing, and intentional text placement on the page. This minimalist approach can work wonders for making your typography feel polished and refined.

7. Avoid Common Mistakes

A few typography faux pas are all too familiar, even among seasoned designers. Steer clear of these, and you'll instantly elevate the quality of your work.

For starters, never use more than two or three font families in a single design. Stick to a cohesive pairing, as mentioned earlier. Also, be wary of using too many font styles (bold, italic, etc.) – this can make your design feel cluttered and unfocused.

Another big no-no is using ALL CAPS for long stretches of body text. Not only does it come across as SHOUTING, but it's also much more complicated for readers to parse. Save all caps for short bursts, like headlines or calls to action.

And finally, make sure you're not inadvertently creating “rivers” of white space running through your text. This happens when large gaps between words create distracting vertical channels. Adjust your kerning and tracking to fix this.

8. Explore Typographic Effects

Once you've mastered the fundamentals, get creative with your typography. There are all kinds of cool effects and techniques you can experiment with to make your text stand out.

For example, try overlaying text on top of an image for a striking, attention-grabbing look. Or play around with drop shadows, glows, or other layer styles to add depth and dimension. You could integrate hand-drawn elements or stylised lettering for a more artisanal vibe.

Just remember to keep these effects subtle and in service of your overall design goals. You don't want your typography to feel gimmicky or overpowering. The key is to use these techniques judiciously to enhance, not distract from, your message.

9. Pay Attention to the Little Details

Great typography isn't just about choosing the right fonts and arranging them nicely on the page. It's also about sweating the small stuff – the little details that most people won't even notice but that collectively elevate your work to the next level.

Consistent punctuation, proper use of ellipses and em dashes, and careful letter spacing all contribute to a polished, professional aesthetic. Take the time to fine-tune these elements and ensure they're applied consistently across your design.

You should also be mindful of typographic conventions like using smart quotes instead of straight quotes, correctly formatting numbers and currency, and ensuring your text is aligned correctly.

These may seem minor points, but paying attention to them can significantly affect how your typography is perceived.

10. Keep Learning and Practising

The world of typography is vast and ever-evolving. No matter how skilled you become, there's always more to learn. That's why it's so important to approach typography as an ongoing process of growth and discovery.

Stay curious and keep exploring new fonts, techniques, and design trends. Read articles, watch tutorials, and immerse yourself in the work of designers you admire. The more you expose yourself to great typography, your skills will improve.

And, of course, the absolute best way to level up is through consistent practice. Challenge yourself to integrate new typographic elements into your designs, experiment with different font pairings, and get feedback from others. The more reps you put in, the more intuitive and second nature it will become.

Remember, typography isn't something you ever truly “master” – it's a lifelong pursuit. So embrace the journey, stay hungry to learn, and don't be afraid to take risks. Your typography will only continue to get better and better.

Wrapping Up

There you have it – my top 10 typography design tips to help you create captivating, attention-grabbing designs. From choosing the right fonts to sweating the little details, these principles will set you up for typographic success.

Of course, the best way to put these tips into practice is to start designing. And if you ever need a helping hand, the team at Inkbot Design is always here to lend our expertise. 😉 We'd love to work with you on crafting a brand identity and marketing materials that truly wow your audience through the power of impeccable typography.

So what are you waiting for? Go forth and make some beautiful, type-centric designs! I can't wait to see what you create.

FAQs