Lesson Overview

Typography is the style and arrangement of text. It includes the fonts you choose, the size of your headings, the spacing between lines, and how easy your words are to read.

Good typography helps customers understand your message quickly. Poor typography can make a business look confusing, rushed, or unprofessional.

Learning Objectives

• Understand what typography means.
• Choose fonts that match your business brand.
• Use headings and body text clearly.
• Avoid common font mistakes.
• Create a simple typography style for your business.

Why Typography Matters

Common Font Types

• Sans-serif fonts: Clean, modern, simple, and easy to read online. Example: Arial.
• Serif fonts: Traditional, formal, and often used for premium or editorial-style brands.
• Script fonts: Decorative handwriting-style fonts. Best used sparingly.
• Display fonts: Bold attention-grabbing fonts. Useful for titles, not long paragraphs.
• Monospace fonts: Technical-looking fonts where each letter takes the same width.

Step-by-Step: Choosing Fonts for Your Business

Step 1: Choose a Heading Font

Your heading font is used for titles, section headings, posters, social media graphics, and important messages. It should stand out but still be easy to read.

Step 2: Choose a Body Text Font

Your body text font is used for paragraphs, descriptions, instructions, emails, website content, and documents. It should be simple and comfortable to read.

Step 3: Limit Your Fonts

Most small businesses only need one or two fonts. Too many fonts can make your brand look messy.

Step 4: Test on a Phone Screen

Many customers will view your business on a phone. Make sure your font is clear and readable on small screens.

Step 5: Keep Font Sizes Consistent

Use larger text for headings, medium text for subheadings, and comfortable readable text for paragraphs.

Simple Typography System

• Main heading: Large, bold, easy to read.
• Section heading: Smaller than the main heading but still clear.
• Body text: Simple font, comfortable size, good spacing.
• Button text: Short, bold, and clear.
• Small text: Used for notes, captions, and footer information.

Where to Use Your Font Style

• Website headings and paragraphs
• Facebook posts and graphics
• Business cards
• Flyers and posters
• Email signature
• Invoices and quotes
• Product labels
• Signs and vehicle graphics
• Downloadable guides and workbooks

Common Typography Mistakes

• Using too many different fonts.
• Using decorative fonts for long paragraphs.
• Making text too small to read on a phone.
• Using poor colour contrast between text and background.
• Writing long blocks of text without headings.
• Using all capital letters for large amounts of text.
• Changing fonts from one platform to another.

Typography Checklist

• I have chosen a clear heading font.
• I have chosen a readable body text font.
• I use no more than two main fonts.
• My text is easy to read on a phone.
• My headings stand out clearly.
• My body text has enough spacing.
• My text colour contrasts well with the background.
• My font style matches my business personality.
• I will use the same font style consistently.

Practical Project

Choose one heading font and one body text font for your business. Create a simple sample layout with a title, short paragraph, button, and contact details. Check whether it looks professional and is easy to read on a phone.

Next Lesson

After choosing your typography, the next step is to bring your colours, logo, and fonts together into a complete brand style guide.