How do fonts affect the perception of a website?

Fonts are the invisible hero of design. When you visit a website, you don't think about fonts if they are chosen well. But make a mistake and the text becomes a puzzle that makes you want to run away. How do fonts influence our perception?

Interesting fact: According to an MIT study, the visual structure of text affects text perception by almost 62%, making font choice a strategically important aspect of web design.

The font is the voice of your brands. It tells a story, evokes emotion and creates a mood. Imagine your website is a book. What cover will the reader choose? It's the same with fonts: the right style can hold attention and increase user confidence.

• Emotional effect. Each font has its own character. Fatty and chopped fonts, such as Helvetica, convey a sense of stability and reliability. And elegant serif fonts like Times New Roman evoke tradition and formality. Imagine a law firm using Comic Sans. Clients are likely to question its seriousness.
• Readability as a key factor. Readability directly affects how much time a user will spend on a website. Small or poorly readable fonts can scare away even the most interested visitor.
• Creating a unique style. A well-chosen font can become a part of corporate identity. For example, the recognisable letters of Coca-Cola are not just text, but a story and emotion.

Tip: Don't forget the contrast between text and background. Well-readable fonts require the right colour combination.

Typography Trends 2024.

Typography is not just a choice of fonts, but a whole art. Every year there are new trends in this area, and 2024 was no exception. 

• Large Fonts. Headlines that take up half the screen are eye-catching and set the tone for all content.
• Personalised fonts. Many brands develop unique fonts to stand out from their competitors. For example, Netflix and YouTube have long followed this path.
• Retro Returns. 70's and 80's style fonts are not just nostalgic, but a powerful way to convey an emotional charge.
• Minimalism. Simple and readable fonts are still relevant. No unnecessary embellishments - just functionality.
• Font Animation. Movable typography makes the site more dynamic and attracts extra attention.

Tip: Don't be afraid to experiment with trends, but keep a balance between style and functionality.

How to choose fonts for business?

Choosing a font is like choosing clothes for a job interview: it's important to impress and not overwhelm. Here are a few steps to help:

• Understand your audience. For the youth audience will suit modern and bright fonts, and for a serious corporate site is better to use strict and laconic.
• Check readability. Do not choose fonts that are hard to read. This is especially important for body text.
• Use a maximum of two or three fonts. Excessive variety can be confusing. A good combination is a main font and an auxiliary font that complement each other well.
• Pay attention to size and spacing. The font may look perfect, but insufficient line spacing will make the text heavy to read.
• Support for different languages. If your site is international, make sure the font supports the right alphabets.

Don't forget to consider the platform and device your site will be used on. A font may look different on mobile devices than on desktop computers.

Case Study Example: Starbucks applies neat, minimalist fonts to emphasise its eco-friendly and modern philosophy, and to give its brand an authentic feel.

Tools for testing fonts:

Before implementing a font into a website, it's important to make sure it actually fits. Here are a few tools to help:

• Google Fonts. A great font selection platform where you can test different variants in real time.
• Fontjoy. A service that helps you choose harmonious font combinations.
• WhatFont. A browser extension that allows you to identify the font on any website.
• Typewolf. An inspirational resource for finding modern fonts with examples of how to use them.
• Figma or Adobe XD. These programmes will help you test fonts in your website layout before users see them.
• Typetester. A tool for comparing multiple fonts at the same time.

Tip: Don't forget to check how the font looks on different devices. Fonts may appear otherwise on smartphones and computers.

Google research has shown that websites with quality fonts and high readability increase user dwell time to 30%. Thus, a competent choice of typography is not only aesthetics, but also a tool that increases business efficiency.

Typography is much more than just text. It is a tool that makes a website beautiful, user-friendly and memorable. Use modern fonts wisely and they will help your business to tell your story without words!