Type can add depth to your designs. Be it to express humor or underline a thought, typography is an excellent way to add fun options for customers. If you haven’t done so already, read How to Navigate the World of Fonts and The Basics of Picking Your Fonts to make the most of this article. Let’s take a deeper dive into how type can help your shop stand out.

Think of typography or calligraphy as tools in your creative utility belt. They’re ways to come across as funny, modern, or smart. Customers react well to text, and this can be used to your advantage to draw attention.

Focus on your message. When using type-based or text art, invest as much time on the design as you do on the words themselves. You can use text to enhance your illustrations, but using the wrong font or placement can become distracting. Customers still want appealing designs on products.

Text-only messaging can be less effective with a mismatched font. Words have meaning. Meaning can be powerful. Fonts are stylistic choice for additional emotion and impact. Imagine a brilliant quote from Albert Einstein or Mark Twain in Comic Sans. It’s a vibe, yes. But is it the vibe that you’re going for?

A few things to keep in mind:

• Simple is better. Try not to combine too many fonts in a single design.
• Complicated fonts can be distracting.  Don’t let design overshadow your art or message.
• Know your fonts! Check out this post on fonts to understand how commercial-use fonts work, and how to make sure the fonts you have are okay to sell.
• Be careful with quotes. We all love merchandise from our favorite shows and movies. Always be sure your works fall within community guidelines.
• Use contrast with your font combinations. Your text will pop when paired with a complimentary font, like a simple sans serif with a more decorative script font.
• Be creative and have fun! Your options with typography are infinite. Feel free to think outside the letter box.

Featured image by chestify