What is your favorite font? (...and why it might not work for your emails)

I’m a ‘font fanatic’ (Fontnatic?) - Generally, I use a wide variety of fonts in my design work and illustration. I love to manipulate text to put my own spin on them as well. I’ve always had an appreciation for both typesetting and typography. But, when it comes to email, these custom fonts will create a variety of issues. In email, there are some specific things to consider when choosing and setting a font to ensure your emails look fantastic while being functionally successful.

Readability:

When focusing on readability in email fonts, use a font size between 14-16 pixels and ensure adequate line spacing to prevent the content from feeling cramped. Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background, opting for dark text on a light background for better readability. Choose clean, sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica for body text, as they are easier to read on screens, and avoid using all caps in long sentences.

Compatibility:

When considering font compatibility in emails, stick to web-safe fonts like Arial, Verdana, Georgia, and Times New Roman to ensure consistent display across various email clients and devices. These fonts are familiar to clients, reducing the risk of improper rendering. Be cautious with custom fonts, as they may not be supported by many email clients, causing the appearance of your email to be janky or distorted. Tip* Test your emails across different platforms to identify and fix any compatibility issues. You want to deliver a consistent and professional look for all your readers.

Branding:

For email branding, select fonts that align with your brand’s identity and reinforce your image. Consistency is crucial - use the same fonts across your marketing materials to create a cohesive and recognizable brand experience. This includes font styles, sizes, and colors, ensuring your emails match the look and feel of your website, social media, and printed materials.

Your choice of font can reflect different aspects of your brand identity; for instance, a modern sans-serif font suggests a contemporary and professional image, while a serif font screams tradition and reliability.

Choose fonts that reflect your brand’s values and the emotions you want to evoke in your audience. Who is your target audience? A playful brand might use a whimsical font, while a corporate brand will likely stick to more conservative options.

Font hierarchy is also important. Differentiate headings, subheadings, and body text to reinforce your brand’s communication style. (and improve readability :wink:)

What fonts do you absolutely love? In design or email specific?

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For me, it’s Bebas Neue, Raleway, Transcity Regular (for my photography logo), Montserrat, and Roboto. I’m all about bold and fun fonts because they let my personality shine through in my writing. I’m very bubbly, nerdy, and extroverted, so I want that to be picked up right away when someone gets an email from me.

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Love this topic! As a graphic designer, I’m all about versatile fonts that can adapt to different projects. Some of my go-tos are Montserrat, for its clean, modern look, and Didot for a touch of classic elegance. I’m also a fan of Futura Now for its geometric simplicity and versatility—perfect for minimalistic designs. For playful projects, Tilda is another favorite because it brings such a unique, whimsical flair to any project. But honestly, picking a favorite can be tough since there’s always a new typeface to discover! :blush:

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I love a good serif / sans serif combination for header and body copy. Like Arvo and Archivo. Also a fan of Poppins, Nunito, and Montserrat.

Courier gives me PTSD; once upon a time way back when I worked in prepress, the imagers (Agfa Avantra if anyone speaks that language) spat out copy in Courier when a postscript font was not loaded (or loaded properly).

I am a card carrying member of the National Alliance to Eliminate Comic Sans.

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