A Word on Typography - Part 2: How to choose fonts for your website

Choosing Fonts

In The Principles of Beautiful Web Design, the author states that "that there are no bad fonts, just inappropriate ones". Using one or multiple fonts that suit your website's requirements in terms of legibility and visual appeal are key to underpinning the nature of your content.

Your Target Audience

The first thing to consider is your website audience. Who are you trying to reach out to? Your choice of typeface will depend heavily on the mood or theme you are trying to portray. Is it casual/serious? Are you the owner or a a new trendy Italian restaurant or an accountancy firm? Does your audience comprise of trendy 20-somethings or an older generation who are looking for your professional services? Defining your identity plays an important part in the typefaces you select for your website.

A Word on Typography - Part 1: How to find fonts for your website.

How do I get different fonts?

I recently received an email from a client who needed some advice about which fonts would best serve her website requirements.

Let's face it, choosing which font would best characterise the information displayed on your website is not easy. With so many fonts to choose from the process of finding the appropriate typeface can be a bit daunting.

The subject of website typography can be an extensive one and a good place to find out about it is the e-book Butterick's Practical Typography over at practicaltypography.com - but let's first deal with the initial question: Where to find fonts?