T YPOG RA PH Y // FONT PAIRING

font pairing
T YPOG RA PH Y // F O N T P A I R I N G

1
NOW SERVING
BRUNCH
Sifonn
Outline

Sifonn

WEEKENDS | 10AM-3PM Sifonn

BREAKFAS T S PECIALS • K IDDIE GAMES

& GOOD MUSIC

2 Trocchi

4 CAFÉ

Alonso
Yellowtail

Template Adapted from Canva.com | Cafe Alonso

Pairing two or more
typefaces together in the
same design piece can
give it a rich character.
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As you can see in this flyer (left) for Cafe
Alonso, the typeface Sifonn is used here
using multiple font varieties, weights Come to our
and sizes including an outlined version.
Spring Super
You can tell this is the same typeface by
studying the structure and characters of the
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Clearance items are 80%
This typeface is a sans-serif, without serifs at off!
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You also see this second typeface being used
called Trocchi. Trocchi is a serif typeface
and it pairs well with a sans-serif typeface.
Serif’s have lots of character and detail, so it As with anything in design there is a proper balance
we have to achieve when pairing different typefaces.
complements the lack of detail on the sans-serif
If we decided to use 5 or more different fonts in the
typeface, giving the design nice complexity
same space it starts to feel inconsistent and messy.
and variety.

character
Serif

simple
Sans-Serif STUDENT WORK: Carina
Rodriguez @nuanced_gd
The key to font pairing is
having enough contrast
between typefaces.

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Use simple typefaces paired

with detailed typefaces.
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Package
The package with
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Find out more below.
Detailed Typefaces
With Simple Typefaces Add to Cart
Raleway
(Regular)

Use typefaces with thick

19
Recipes
characters paired with one that
has thinner characters.

French Chunky Serif Abril Fatface

COOKING Slab Serif Typeface Josefin Slab

DESSERTS & PASTRIES

A thick serif typeface with a
regular weight sans-serif
also pairs well together.

Chunky Serif Abril Fatface

 Myriad Variable Concept

(Regular)

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You can even pair

different fonts in the Thick Sans-serif Azo Sans Black

same typeface family. Light Sans-serif Azo Sans Light

Pairing two different typefaces together is
like dating. You will find some fit together
like a glove while others are disastrous.
The best way to find which fonts pair well together is to follow some basic rules,
some of which are the same rules we follow in design as a whole like contrast,
repetition and balance.

Good Sample Pairings:

Opposites attract. Bree Bold

Helvetica

hello there
My date above is pretty
fancy with its high
A
Didot Bold
Big Calson
Lato Regular

A
contrast strokes. POIRET ONE
Gill Sans SemiBold
I’m just a simple guy with
consistent thickness in my
strokes. and no serifs or Avenir Book
Arvo Bold
fancy details. Cambay Devanagari

wonder Helvetica Bold

Mokoko Regular

wonder
Montserrat Bold
Bree Bold
Not having enough differences
between your choices can make
the two compete with each other,
making your design lose focus.

These are both Didone style typefaces. It is hard to even

tell the difference, and that is the problem.

This One
Didot Regular

This One
Baskerville Poster PT
The differences are really tiny.
Like the way the serif is treated
in this lowercase N.

OO n n
Cap Height

X-Height

Baseline

Examples of font pairings that have little contrast

Futura Bold Henriette

Antique Olive Alfa Slab One

Helvetica Regular Benton Sans Regular

Roboto Medium Arial Regular
 Good Sample Pairings:

Disorder with Order Primont

Soleil Semibold

Script A
Lust Script
Laca Book

My date is carefree and fun. Her Al Fresco ParkSide

A
characters have big gaps between
the cap height and X-Height lines. Ballinger Bold

I am glad I have more average

spacing between mine so I can Cortado
balance her out. Laca Book
Quatro Book

This is Strange Cap Height

X-Height

Baseline

Cap Height

Play by the rules X-Height

Baseline

Try to avoid pairing two strong scripts or decorative typefaces together. A good example of pairing an expressive
typeface with a simple one.

Vikor Script Liza Disaply pro

Al Fresco Coquette
Lust Script Cortado
Fave Condensed One Pro Battery Park
Rules were made
to be broken...
sometimes.
There are instances where having disjointed
font pairings can be a creative expression.
This could be by using more than four
different fonts in one design piece or fonts
that vary wildly from one another.

“Life Quote typography poster - Life is like riding a bicycle - Retro-style quote art
print A3” by Wicker Paradise is licensed with CC BY 2.0.