Great font pairings are essential to great design. But picking great fonts can seem like a dark art. Choosing one font is simple enough, yet finding another font to complement it can be a journey to Helvetica and back. But it doesn’t need to be a nightmare.
Here are Canva’s top tips for font pairing.
1. Stick to two fonts
In the world of design, simplicity is best, and this is especially true when dealing with fonts. Too many fonts can look messy, so keep it simple by just using two. Give each font a specific role in your design – for instance, one font for headings, and another for the body copy.
2. What does your font say?
Keep it legible. If you want to get your message across, ensure your typeface is a suitable size and is fit for purpose – playful fonts might be suitable for a heading, but not for body text. And keep in mind that every font has its own personality – playful, formal, modern, traditional… so ensure you use fonts that will support the message of your text.
3. Opposites attract
If there’s one foolproof font pairing that we’ll always stand by, it’s this: a sans serif font with a serif font. You can use opposites when playing around with script and feature fonts too, by pairing them with a more restrained font.