Eight logo font tips for the perfect logo. A study by Extensis state that there are over half a million estimated fonts in existence. With so many options, how do you know which one to choose?
If you’re the person in charge of designing your company’s branding, you’ve probably come across several fonts for logos you like. But which is the best one to go for?
Choosing a suitable logo font can be challenging, especially if you’re new to designing. So we’ve put together this helpful guide that delves into eight things you should consider when picking the perfect one for your brand.
How to Choose a Logo Font
If you’re wondering how to design a logo and where to start, this list is a great place. This list features easy-to-follow steps on everything you need to think about. The logo is often the first contact a customer will have with your company, so it must look well-designed and professional.
The Type of Typography
Typography is the word used to describe and categorize different logo fonts. Every font has various characteristics that give it a personality. There are also various jargon words associated with the typography of fonts to get your head around. Here are the familiar words.
- Serif: Serif fonts are classic in style and associated with images of tradition and refinement
- Slab Serif: Slab Serif fonts represent vintage and rustic styles
- Sans -Serif: Sans Serif fonts work well for a modern and clean look
- Script: Script fonts link to both femininity and elegance
- Display: Display fonts add a fun novelty twist to your logo
Readability of the Logo Font Style and Weight
One of the top logo design tips that often gets overlooked is readability. Is your brand recognizable and seen at a glance or from a distance?
The style refers to elements such as italic formatting and capitalizing certain letters. For example, does your logo start with a capital letter, or will the whole world be shown in caps? Also, what is the weight of your lettering? This is how bold the letters are. Does a heavy-weight font work better? Or a lightweight letter.
You must consider where you will display your logo on your website. For example, a bold font might be readable on a billboard, but does it work just as well as printed as a letter header?
Use and Industry-Relevant Logo Font
Specific attributes of your font help communicate with your customers on a subconscious level. This is an essential consideration for logo design. For example, using a cursive or script style is associated with female traits so that it will look out of place on a car mechanic logo.
Likewise, an industrial font type will look out of place on a product aimed at families. For inspiration, see what similar companies have used to convey their brand image through the lettering used on their logo.
Pairing the logo Font
Often, a brand will have a couple of fonts. These are usually the company name in one font and then a tagline in another. Both fonts must complement each other and work together to convey your brand’s image. It’s also essential to consider the brand color’s use and how this impacts the overall look.
Having some of the wording in cursive and feminine font and then a tagline in an industrial style can look cumbersome. Instead, try to choose similar elements or if you have one very stylized font, then complement it with a plain, easy-to-read font.
Spacing & Justification
The distance between letters and how they align is applicable design considerations. Do the letters need to be easily read from a distance, like on a shop sign? Then you’ll want to allow for bigger spacing between the letters to stand out. Equally, if the branding is going to be on letterhead, then large gaps can look odd.
Also, think about the alignment of the wording. Does it want to be justified to the left, the right, or centered? Play about with different alignments and spacing between each line of text. This is especially important if your logo design has the primary name and a catchphrase.
How the logo Font Works With Graphical Elements
Just as it’s essential to align your lettering correctly, you’ll need to see how they work with a graphical element. For example, this might be a symbol used with the writing to create the overall brand logo.
Check the style of your writing complements any graphical element used and that they all convey the same message of your brand.
Are You Using the Typography as the Logo?
If you’re not planning on using any tagline or graphical element, then you need to make sure that your brand name and typography have the potential to become your logo. Some great companies that have done this and can be recognized are Coca-Cola and Kellogs. Both of these logos are instantly recognized without using anything but the brand’s name.
The Adaptability of the logo Font
Does your font work well in a range of different situations? For example, what does it look like on different color backgrounds? Can it be scaled up and down easily? Can someone with a sight impairment read it? Is it recognizable at a glance? And does your logo represent what your company does?
You should be able to answer yes to each of these.
How Does Your Company’s Branding Look?
Hopefully, these eight tips have given you plenty to think about when choosing the correct logo font for your company’s logo and branding. These are but a few digital marketing tips for you and your business.
If you’re struggling with your artistic flair and can’t quite get the look you’re after, you might prefer to delegate this job to a designer. Contact a creative team member to discuss your custom logo design requirements.
