Just like a great haircut, the perfect font for your logo is the finishing touch to your stunning outfit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ve spent a lot of time thinking about your brand identity and what type of logo design might be best for you. With so many colors and shapes to choose from, how do you decide what is the best font for a business logo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our guide, we start simple by explaining what makes a font different from a typeface. From there, we move on to fonts you’ll have seen in your everyday life. The next step is to then look at the many different fonts, whether they be display fonts, logo fonts, or even free fonts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, you’ll learn logo design from scratch, and we’ll teach you all the tweaks you can apply, such as lowercase letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s begin our deep dive into logo fonts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“Typography must be as beautiful as a forest, not like the concrete jungle of the tenements. It gives distance between the trees, the room to breathe and allow for life.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2015 Adrian Frutiger<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
What Makes a Font Different from a Typeface?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Please think of a typeface<\/strong> as 26 letters<\/strong> from A to Z<\/strong>. In your everyday life you will have come across typefaces that aim to convey their message in a unique way. For example, think of comics for very young children. The letters used are not sharp and scary but are soft with simple lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Traffic road signs\u2014whether giving a speed limit or a warning\u2014have letter shapes that are economical and serious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the United Kingdom, all road signs have a typeface known as Transport<\/strong>. This typeface informs road users very quickly as it contains plain letters without artistic touches. It’s important to note here that the Transport typeface<\/strong> is a sans serif typeface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okay, so What\u2019s a Sans Serif Typeface?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Well, we need to explain what a serif typeface is first. A serif is when a small line is added to the end of a larger stroke in a letter. This process is what creates a serif. Let’s paint this explanation with a picture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see above, the serif typeface added to the exit sign is a nice design choice. Serif offers a traditional feel that has a vibe of history and class. We’d say serif is a nice choice of design for something with a history behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, if someone is driving at 55 kilometers per hour. In that case, the typeface might be too distracting and would not communicate its message effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transport<\/strong>, the typeface used for road signs, is a sans-serif typeface. Sans is a French<\/strong> word meaning without<\/strong>. So, the typeface has no additional lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s a picture of a UK road sign. Contrast it with the EXIT <\/strong>sign picture above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can see that the above road sign contains no additional lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now I Know What a Typeface Is, Can You Tell Me What a Font Is?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A font is when you take a letter from a typeface and make small differences, such as making letters bold<\/strong> and italic<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What makes fonts so wonderful is that they can be tweaked and adjusted in endless ways. This design ability can transform marketing materials and logos for your brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commonly Used Everyday Fonts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With so many different fonts available to you, how can you choose a specific font that will be best for your logo? They do say that the best method of studying is observation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether sitting at your desk using a computer or walking past a road sign in the street, there is plenty of help available when it comes to choosing the right font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that idea in mind, let’s take a walk through popular fonts you see in your everyday life. In reading our descriptions of the following fonts, consider their meanings and styles then ask if they would be best to represent your brand in a logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arial<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Arial typeface features a large font family and is a popular choice with many Word Processors. If you’ve used Google Docs<\/strong> you’ll have noticed that the first typeface offered to you is Arial. Helvetica’s font family inspired the design of Arial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result, a typeface that has created many fonts, has been used by both Google and Microsoft as the primary font for their webpages, as Arial is a web-safe font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And what exactly is a web-safe font?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Whatever web browser you’ve used in the past will have come with its own font to make sure that website text appears the same way for all users. A web-safe font, such as Arial, is also used by web browsers to get webpages to load faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Famous Company That Uses Arial<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Microsoft<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Microsoft made the Arial typeface free when it released its operating system\u2015Windows 3.1. It also spread the idea of this typeface being adjusted into fonts that would look great on marketing materials and even logos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Baskerville<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Baskerville was designed by John Baskerville<\/strong> in 1757<\/strong>. A serif typeface<\/strong>, Baskerville was later reworked into the Monotype Baskerville font <\/strong>in 1923 by Stanley Morison, both a typographer and historian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morison kept the serif fonts and created letters that would be used in a logo font typography classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using uppercase letters, Vogue magazine<\/strong> created a logo design that highlighted the elegant<\/strong> and clean but sharp lines of the Monotype Baskerville<\/strong> font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Famous Company That Uses Baskerville<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Vogue<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Times New Roman<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In 1929<\/strong>, the Times of London newspaper hired Stanley Morison<\/strong> to work his magic and conjure up a new serif typeface<\/strong>. In homage to the designer, Google always displays the entire search results page in Times New Roman when searching for Stanley Morison!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ever since, Morison\u2019s Times New Roman has become the typeface of choice for newspapers and magazines across the globe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The typeface is extremely legible due to a number of factors, with 3 being of most importance:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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- It has a serif design, which makes readability easy as its extra lines guide your eyes along the page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Times New Roman<\/strong> has a good contrast as it uses a variety of thick<\/strong> and thin strokes<\/strong>. This helps make characters, even in a small size, easily distinguishable<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- As a standard typeface on most word processors across platforms, Times New Roman is very good for compatibility<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Times New Roman also has a number of offshoot fonts, such as Times New Roman OS<\/strong>, which is based on the Times New Roman font used by Microsoft in their operating system known as Windows Vista<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Famous Company That Uses Times New Roman<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Time Magazine<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Best Fonts for Logos<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In trying to help you pick a font for your logo, we’ve discussed the emotions some fonts conjure up, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Class<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Elegance<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Traditionalism<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
We’ve also discussed the history of some fonts giving you an idea of how they became part of a contemporary typeface or how they were later reworked into a more modern appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of the information we’ve provided so far will give you an idea of how to project your brand personality in a visually appealing way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next step is for us to help you decide on your logo font selection by explaining the purpose of different fonts and the companies that use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Serif Fonts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If a store has been selling a particular item for a very long time, then a serif font would be a good choice. Serif fonts have a classy yet subtle vibe. Serif fonts not only look great in both uppercase and lowercase letters but also suggest a more historical experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Serif typefaces are best used as business logo fonts if your brand is attempting to convey feelings of elegance and tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The look of a store can be complemented by using Arial Rounded font, which features rounded letters with soft angles to help your brand and store appear more approachable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4 Famous Companies That Use Serif Fonts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Sony<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Gap<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Mercedes-Benz<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4. Tiffany & Co.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Sans Serif Fonts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For an elegant logo design, we’ve recommended serif fonts. Now, we’d like to sell you the idea of a modern sans serif font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We explained before that serif fonts come with serifs that are small lines attached to the top and bottom of a letter. The lines also help readability giving your eyes a sense of direction in which way to read the text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sans serif fonts come without serifs, but they also appear a little sharper and more polished. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some popular sans serif fonts include:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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- Futura<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Frutiger<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Helvetica<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Proxima Nova<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These fonts have a stripped-down back to basics charm to them. This quality makes them more likely to catch the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take a look at the following 4 companies that use sans serif fonts. Also, please take time out to research how these companies combine different colors and bold fonts to push graphic design to its limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4 Famous Companies That Use Sans Serif Fonts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Adidas<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Airbnb<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Google<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
4. Spotify<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Logo Fonts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In looking at other companies, you may notice the font of their logo makes their brand identity incredibly unique. The distinctive look of a logo is forged over a length of time by experimenting with a specific font family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, in some cases, an entirely new font is created in order to widen the gap between a company and its competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Known as one of the best logo fonts on the market, Google<\/strong> strengthened their brand identity in 2015 by creating a new logo font<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using a custom geometric sans serif typeface called Product Sans<\/strong>, Google revamped their logo and their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Display Fonts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A display font can create cool logo fonts by using trial and error in experimental methods, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- The use of overly decorative fonts can grab the viewer’s attention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lettering is displayed in stencil, neon, and other less-used materials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- An emphasis on futuristic or surreal designs to capture interest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
While these fonts are considered avant-garde<\/strong> (modern and experimental), they should also be used sparingly. Keep your font design minimal and not garish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your logo should still communicate your brand identity but not drive away potential customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3 Famous Companies That Use Display Fonts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Fanta<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Netflix<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Domino’s Pizza<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Memorable Logo Fonts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here’s a quick look at 3 logo fonts that we love:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Dunkin’ Donuts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Baskin Robbins<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Nestle’s KitKat<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
5 Tips for Choosing Fonts for Logos<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With or without a degree in graphic design, you’ll now have enough knowledge to know what types of logo fonts appeal to you. We hope you’ll also know what visual identity you want to project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What we’ll now provide are 7 quick tips to help you decide on the perfect logo font.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Brand Identity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ask yourself what you want your brand to mean. Should your brand appear expensive and refined or available to everyone? For the brand identity of your product or service, you can ask yourself who is it for? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you use one or multiple fonts, pick a font that tells people what it is that you sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Target Audience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We mentioned before that if you were choosing a font<\/strong> for children’s comics<\/strong>, you’d want the letters<\/strong> to be soft<\/strong> with simple<\/strong> lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your target audience is older<\/strong>, you might aim for a font with sophistication<\/strong> or history<\/strong> behind it\u2015just like the serif fonts of Baskerville<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With your new knowledge, you’ll now be able to look at what a font symbolizes, the feelings it evokes, and the age range it\u2019s appropriate for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Legibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You remember the Transport<\/strong> font, right? You saw for yourself how an economical sans serif font can guide traffic to safety. The next time you visit a bookstore or newspaper stand, take a few steps back and see which<\/strong> book or newspaper font<\/strong> appears the clearest<\/strong> to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With web design ever important in an ever-flourishing online world<\/strong>, your logo font<\/strong> should be legible<\/strong> whether on billboards, store signs, websites, or mobile apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Minimalism<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Choosing the right font for your logo, whether the logo is a geometric form or a simple square, will be easy if you don\u2019t overthink or overdo the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s tempting to throw everything into your first logo, but try to keep your early designs tight and minimal. Try a serif logo font on a simple background, then move on to trying script fonts on different colored backgrounds, but try not to complicate your designs when you first get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Experiment, but Take Your Time Doing It<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While first using fonts on your new logo, try to research the topic of logo fonts at the same time. And please don’t be put off by anything new. If you don’t know about workmark logos, script fonts, or serif logo fonts\u2015don’t panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Always take your time when creating a logo. Remember that you have our handy guide to help you and a wealth of material freely available on our blog. Don’t worry: our blog is going nowhere!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Design a Logo in 5 Easy Steps<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As well as discussing the types of logo fonts you can choose, we thought it would be an idea to talk about designing a logo. A great logo font can only take you so far, and designing a logo can sometimes be a time-intensive process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want a great logo but don’t have too much time to invest, please let us recommend the use of a strong Logo Maker<\/a>. To keep your brand identity and other design elements looking good, you might find a logo maker is an intuitive and easy to use solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One logo maker with a simple interface and customizable templates is available from FreeLogoServices<\/a>.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Suppose you’d like an impressive logo that is good enough to put on your merchandise, such as pens and t-shirts? In that case, FreeLogoServices<\/strong> offers a fantastic logo maker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n