The Beginner's Guide to Font Pairing

Introduction

• Using at least two fonts enhances most layouts such as magazine spreads, book pages, flyers, and websites.
• This guide provides five easy methods to create effective font combinations focusing on headlines and body text.

Font Pairing Styles

1. Sans Serif Headline + Serif Body Text

• Common and professional choice: Offers high contrast, making typography look polished and professional.
• Mix of classic and contemporary styles, suitable for many layouts.
• Example Pairing:
  • Headline: Bebas Neue
  • Body Text: Caslon
  • Sub-heading: Adobe Caslon Pro Italic

2. Headline + Body Text Fonts From the Same Font Family

• Consistent style: Fonts from the same typeface family provide a cohesive look.
• Larger font families (superfamilies) offer more stylistic variations.
• Example Pairing:
  • Headline: Roboto Slab
  • Body Text: Roboto

3. Headline + Body Text Fonts Which Share the Same Mood

• Each font has its own personality and mood.
• Sub-category groupings of fonts share similar moods.
• Example Pairings:
  • Old Style:
    • Headline: Garamond
    • Body Text: Gill Sans
  • Transitional:
    • Headline: Mrs. Eaves
    • Body Text: Futura
  • Modern:
    • Headline: Bodoni
    • Body Text: Open Sans

4. Display Headline + Humanist or Transitional Body Text

• Impactful design: Display fonts are designed to attract attention.
• Suitable for design-forward layouts like posters and magazine covers.
• Example Pairing:
  • Headline: Scala Sans Black
  • Body Text: Gentium Basic

5. Round Sans Serif Headline + Old-Style Serif Body Text

• Futuristic appeal: Rounded fonts paired with traditional serif texts offer a contrast that creates a clean, space-age feel.
• Example Pairing:
  • Headline: Quicksand
  • Body Text: Garamond

Conclusion

• If overwhelmed by font choices, explore a curated selection for various purposes and budgets.
• Effective font pairing enhances readability and aesthetic appeal in design projects.