Fonts play a crucial role in the visual communication of all written information. While it may seem that people take its power for granted, fonts are capable of controlling how texts are perceived and how messages are understood.
User interface designers always come across the diverse world of fonts which are vaguely categorized into two types: serif and sans-serif. The first one features decorative strokes at the end of the characters while the second one does not but offers a more sleek appearance.
When it comes to choosing fonts it is important to consider their readability and their impact on the overall aesthetic of the design. With thousands of fonts to choose from, here are some of the styles that you can choose to enhance your user experience:
Verdana
This typeface was designed by Matthew Carter for Microsoft and was officially introduced to Windows 95 in 1996. It is widely known for its optimal readability on computer screens and is a popular choice for digital materials.
The font is perfect for small sizes on screens due to its large x-height, making it easily distinguishable even on lower-resolution screens. It is also notably wider than other fonts and has good spacing between characters. Paypal and IKEA have both used the Verdana font.
Arial
This typeface has been known as the default font for Windows and Office applications such as Word and PowerPoint for many years. Arial is also commonly used as a web font due to its compatibility with various operation systems, making it a web-safe font for web designers.
Despite its simplicity, Arial is considered one of the most versatile fonts. It can be used in a variety of contexts, although most of the time it is seen in neutral and straightforward designs. If you love Arial, you can also try its sort of sister font which is Helvetica.
Georgia
Also designed by Matthew Carter for Microsoft, Georgia was primarily created for on-screen reading. It also offers a good alternative for people who prefer san-serif fonts but want to retain their readability.
The font gained popularity upon its launch in 1993 when people are still hyped about its end strokes per character. It has a notable traditional appearance which probably caused its likeability back then. Regardless, many digital publications are still using Georgia, giving their sites a classic look.
Courier New
Popular for its monospaced design, Courier New is a serif font that is suitable for materials that require precise alignment of characters. Despite of its unique and strict appearance, the font is still categorized under the serif group due to its typewriter-like appearance.
If you love the fonts made by old typewriters, then this font is the perfect one for you. It is often used on scripts due to its readability, as well as in programming and other coding environments. Several legal documents are also printed using Courier New due to its professional and sleek look.
Roboto
Considered as one of the babies in the font world, Roboto was designed by Christian Robertson and was released by Google in 2011. Since then, the Android operating system has been using Roboto as the default font.
Despite its young age, this font quickly gained the attention of interface designers due to its clarity and versatility. Most importantly, it offers a modern design and is seen on most of the devices.
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