Jason Schneider, a Toronto designer, talks about proper font usage.

2. Who do I think I am? xD m a
g k
• @layoutmonkey aka Jason Schneider e y
B
• Graphic designer for 15 years. Z
• Focusing on trade print publishing.
H
dew p
o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

3. What is a font?
•
xD m a
g k
Font: a complete character set of a single e y
B
Z
size and style of a particular typeface.
•
p
Typeface: a set of one or more font
or
more sizes, designed with stylistic unity.
H
dew
styles including bolds and italics, in one
o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

4. A font is MORE than that! xD m a
g k
e y
• B
Z
An artistic interpretation of the basic
alphabet.
• A character or personality.
H
dew p
o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

5. Why are fonts important?
•
xD m
They convey a feeling that underlines the message.
a
g k
e y
B
• Z
They can be used to speak to a specific group or
community.
• H
dew p
They can create an identity for your product oro
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

6. xD m
Why Comic Sans might NOT work. a
g k
e y
B
Z
H
dew p o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

7. Fonts add personality.
•
xD m a
g k
e
The design of the font can either help or hinder y
B
Z
your message.
•
advantage.
dew p
The individuality of a font can be used to your
H o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

8. Personality test. xD m a
g k
e y
B
Z
H
dew p
o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

9. Who is your font-dience? xD m a
g k
• Determine your demographic. e y
B
• Can they even see the font? Z
• Keep the more creative fonts to a
minimum when designing for ESL. H
dew p
o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

10. Where the font?!
•
xD m
Where you use fonts also determines what e
you
a
g k
y
B
Z
choose.
• Do they have the time?
• Online vs. print.
H
dew po
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

11. Serif 101.
•
xD m a
g k
Serif fonts have small lines at the end of e y
B
Z
strokes within letters, which are called
serifs.
• Serifs are thought to have originated in
the Roman alphabet with inscriptional
lettering.
H
dew p
o
T
•
nj vc s
The conventional wisdom holds that serifs
The quick brown fox jumps over the
u i
lazy dog. The quick brown fox jumps
over the lazy dog. The quick brown fox
jumps over the lazy dog. The quick
f L
q
brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. The
quick brown fox jumps over the lazy
dog. The quick brown fox jumps over
the lazy dog. The quick brown fox
jumps over the lazy dog. The quick
brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

12. Where to Serif?
•
xD m a
g k
Primarily in print as opposed to online dueeto y
B
Z
anti-aliasing text becoming blurry on the low-
resolution monitor.
•
magazines, newspapers. H
dew p
Where legibility is most important like books,
o
• Anywhere you want to convey a professional T
nj vc s
and traditional appearance.
u i
f L
q

13. Sans Serif 101. xD m a
g k
• Sans Serif fonts are the ones that do not e y
B
Z
have serifs at the end of their strokes.
• The term Sans Serif was first coined in
1830 using the French word ‘sans’
H
dew p o
T
T T T nj vc s
u i
f L
q

14. Go Sans Serifing!
•
xD m a
g k
Print, online, and handheld devices e y
B
Z
because serifs often detract from
readability on the low resolution of
•
displays.
Wherever you want to show
emphasis
H
dew p
o
due to the thicker, uniform strokes. T
nj vc s
• Anywhere you want to convey a
u i
f L
q

15. Display 101.
•
xD m a
g k
e
Display fonts are used primarily for decorative y
B
Z
purposes and have the most distinctive designs
of all fonts.
•
dewH p
Can incorporate pictures of objects, animals, etc.
into the character designs. o
• Were created for best appearance at large T
nj v s
u
desdemonA c i
Weltron Urban f L
!quot;#$%&'()*+, q

16. Where to Display? xD m a
g k
• Anywhere you want to add artistic flare, e y
B
Z
design elements or embellishments.
•
•
Where the characteristics of the font are
H
dew
thematic and complimentary to the design.
Avoid cliché Display fonts that your average
p o
end user surprisingly knows are less T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

17. Brand-ishing your font.
•
xD m
Define your product or service by using
a
g k
e y
B
Z
specified fonts throughout your corporate
identity including your logo.
H
dew p o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

18. ftw! – font that works! xD m a
g k
• e
Have you chosen the right font for the right job? y
B
• Z
Will your end user be receptive to your font choice?
•
H
dew p
Do you have too many different fonts in one place?
o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q

19. Looking for fonts? xD m a
g k
• dafont.com e y
B
• 1001fonts.com Z
•
•
fontfreak.com
bancomicsans.com
H
dew p
o
T
nj vc s
u i
f L
q