3 workhorse Typefaces that will improve your designs instantly

You do know that keeping your Typeface choices lean does not restrict your creativity or lessen the quality of your work.

It lets you know them inside-out, understand how a specific size or weight of that particular face will slot perfectly into your project and help you avoid that mundane '30-minute font search'. We've all done it, right?

If you're working on a project where the brand guidelines are less restrictive, you'd be wise to implement one of the three Typefaces I'll be covering here.

Let's take a look at them...

Lexend

Created by Bonnie Shaver-Troup and Thomas Jockin

Lexend is one of those Typefaces that impressed me from the start, not just with its versatility and beautiful looks but because it's incredible for ethical reasons too.

In the past few years, I've become a great advocate of Typefaces like Lexend (and another one, Atkinson Hyperlegible), which are making a change for good in the world and trying to benefit as many folks as possible.

It's a workhorse Typeface, and I enjoy using it extensively, verging on the obsessive. It's so versatile at wildly different sizes, and there are few projects it can't fit comfortably into.

Lexend makes a great statement when used at large Display sizes but equally makes its mark in long-form content at smaller text sizes. Honestly, you could solely use Lexend throughout a project, and it would look (to use a professional term) the s**t!

Lexend — Change the way the world reads.

Lexend — Change the way the world reads.

Inter

Created by Rasmus Andersson

Created in 2017 by Rasmus Andersson; Inter is a fantastic Typeface with plenty of weights and styles to choose from, and like Lexend above and Objektiv below, it has superb legibility from the smallest micro-copy to the largest Display text, and that's a win (with sprinkles on) for any Designer.

Like Lexend, it's an absolute workhorse and one that you could use throughout a project without having to go down the route of searching out 2 to 3 Typefaces to complement each other.

Inter has become an absolute classic and has embedded itself deep into the Typeface landscape, and rightly so.

It's ridiculously versatile. It's beautiful in its simplicity. It's a workhorse, without a doubt.

Inter font family

Inter is a typeface family optimized for user interfaces and computer screens

rsms.me/inter

Objektiv (Mk 1, 2 & 3)

Created by Dalton Maag

Objektiv really was 'that' Typeface for me for a long time (until that cheeky Lexend arrived), with its versatility being one of the main reasons.

I still have a lot of love for Objektiv, especially when it can be used, again like Lexend or Inter, quite readily for both Headlines and Body copy, which I've used it for extensively.

On many projects, I've used a combination of Objektiv Mk1 and Mk2 for Headlines and Mk3 for long-form content and micro-copy. This combination has produced excellent results time and time again.

Created by Dalton Maag, the studio behind other great Typefaces such as Aktiv Grotesk, and Effra, it's become a solid choice of mine, and I highly recommend you check it out.

Dalton Maag | Objektiv

We make type for branding, retail, and corporate clients that perform beautifully across print and digital environments.

Objektiv

I know I've covered these Typefaces in the past, but I just wanted to give folks who may have missed them a bit of a refresher because they are so damn versatile. And 2 of them are entirely Free, which is always a winner.

Using reliable and versatile Typefaces can significantly enhance your designs and save you from searching aimlessly for 'that' one when your tried-and-trusted workhorse options are ready and waiting.

Pick a few favourites and stick with 'em.

See you next week,
Marc.

If you enjoyed this, there's a couple of other ways I can help you out right now...

Design Guides: A collection of bite-sized UI & UX Design guides to reference frequently. Improve your knowledge and skills with little effort required. Oh, and they're absolutely Free. Grab the Guides here.

Cabana Design System for Figma: My best-selling system is a powerful kit for designers short on time. Think of it as a cheat-code that enables you to create beautiful designs... fast. Check out Cabana here.