8+1 typography resources to get you inspired and effective
*Type Scale*
Have you ever wondered how some apps and websites feel so great reading? Probably it has to do something with the harmony of scaling type. Scale is the size of design elements in comparison to other elements within the layout. Changes in scale help to create visual contrast, movement and depth as well as express hierarchies of importance.
The Type Scale site has some commonly used ratios (major third, augmented fourth, golden ratio, etc.) to set up the initial hierarchy created with a customizable base size (which defaults to 16px). With a few clicks you can preview and set up the type styles within Figma and start designing with type in peace consistently. The offered default scale values can be extended into both directions if the predefined initial 9 levels are not enough.
If you can only live your life within Figma, then this plugin is your (only) friend. 🤓
*Fonts In Use*
Fonts In Use is a public archive of typography indexed by typeface, format, industry, and period. Supported by examples contributed by the public, and Florian and his team documents and examines graphic design with the goal of improving typographic literacy and appreciation.
I tend to use the site for project research, type selection, pairing and discovering new ways to creatively use typefaces. My favorite part is searching by topics, and since I’m spending most of my time within digital, I have a true appreciation to look at some printed posters and matchbox designs too to get some ideas.
*Fonts Ninja*
Browsing the web and spotted some nice typeface used on a website? Well, certainly a little inspect could help under the hood, but for the less technical the Fonts Ninja plugin could help to identify the font face along with the used size, line height and color.
I’ve rarely used the bookmarking feature of it, but I found it useful to be able to see how much the license would cost me if I purchase it commercially, so I could communicate back to my client for a $$$.
*Typewolf*
Arguably the most visited and freshest typography blog on Earth. It’s great for inspiration and I often used to capture some nice font pairings there too. I’m a returning user to the created lists created by Jeremiah, and if you have hard times to remember the correct shortcut combo for glyphs and special characters like I do, then you might appreciate this special page.
*Fresh Fonts*
I don’t even remember the first time I came across Fresh Fonts, but certainly it was due to Stauffer Noemi 🙏 and thanks to the type community within SuperHi.
Fresh Fonts is an independent newsletter that celebrates and supports indie type design. It’s not just a great way to get updates about certain type trends, but quickly became my fav newsletter, because with membership you can get a complete font family each month to use, for both commercial and personal projects. Did I say there is also a welcome gift joining the newsletter? 🎁
The current website is under construction, so the best way to keep in touch with them is through Twitter.
*Thinking with type by Ellen Lupton*
There are a few books on my bookshelf, which I revisit every single year (to keep important things at the top of my head 🐵) and Ellen’s book is definitely one of them. She covers end-to-end everything you need to know about typography with specific type crimes to avoid. It’s not just a great reference book, but also a good read with stories and lifelike examples.
*100 days of fonts*
If you are not yet tired of the type inspiration, this website made by Elle Luna offers a great overview about how Google Fonts could be paired very creatively. Originally it was a challenge she made by coding these combinations for 99 days (she missed day 95 😅 but still going strong).
*Font Reach*
I’m not sure what was your original intent to read the article dear reader, but you might wanted to get some free stuff and I will gladly try to serve that for you. Font Reach is a collection site with typefaces in different categories (sans-serif, serif, script, etc.) which you can use for free for personal use and buy for commercial use.
With a similar purpose I also leave some other resources here to get some fresh blood in your font library as well: PangramPangram Nikolas Type Grilli Type Displaay
*+1*
If all the resources made you type hungry, why don’t you create your own to share it with friends and the world? Foundations of type design is an all-comprehensive course, where you can learn about the foundations of type design, how to get started on designing their first typeface, and how to plan out a series of styles.
It’s a really comprehensive resource and a lot of fun and also platform-agnostic, meaning that it focuses on the principles of design so anyone can learn regardless of the type of computer or software they have.
I hope you liked the list and you come back for more later. You can find some other articles below related to UX/UI and Graphic Design. Thanks for any claps, actually you deserve it to read it till the end! 👏
