6 Unique Geometric Fonts You Need in Your Toolkit

Typography is one of the most dynamic and ever-changing areas of design and it is determinant for the overall user experience of a work. Indeed, fonts give the possibility to evoke feelings and to convey ideas to the users just by choosing the appropriate fonts according to the circumstance.

In websites and in mobile applications, sans-serif fonts are usually preferred because they don’t have as many visual embellishments. This makes them a good fit for the flat design aesthetic and keeps readability high.

Sans-serif fonts are divided into four categories:

-####Humanist -####Grotesque -####Neo-grotesque & -####Geometric

In this article we're going to look at some designers who really know how to use geometric fonts well – and then we'll pick out a handful of fonts for our own projects.

Let’s go!

What Exactly Do We Mean By 'Geometric Fonts'?

As the name suggests, these fonts are based on simple geometric shapes such as circles and squares. Geometric fonts are used mainly for headings of printed works but also for web or mobile design projects.

Experts trace the rise of geometric fonts to the Bauhaus, the German art school which operated from 1919 to 1933.  It is no coincidence that 'Futura, one of the most famous geometric fonts, was released in 1927 by Paul Renner, a Bauhaus artist.

Geometric Fonts In Use**

Let’s now have a look at some examples of how geometric typefaces can be used with good results.

Jova

Jova is a construction enterprise which is specialized in renovations of houses and shops.

Their website features an unconventional navigation menu which is based on a grid-style layout and it creates a professional, simple and refined look which goes well with the brand image.

The designers decided to write the text with a geometric font: I think it is a good choice because the linearity of the subtle typeface reinforces the overall design.

Le Parc Records

My second example is “Le Parc Records”, a music label. Here, the website is able to evoke a dark, modern powerful vibe thanks to the rich background images and the font used.

Indeed, some spectacular photos are sliding but, without a proper typeface the global effect would be less strong. Although the font is a bit bizarre, it is definitely attractive. The font is a geometric one which has no decorative serifs at the tips of the letters, but instead employs small inserts in some letters such as “O” and “X”.

This shows that geometric fonts not only work well in a sharp, elegant and clean setting like Jova, but also in cooler and edgier situations like Le Parc.

Comedy Central

The last example is an American television channel, “Comedy Central”.  A few years ago, Comedy Central underwent a rebranding process which introduced a new logo and a new look.

The operation was carried out by “theLab”, a creative production agency, which decided to use the geometric font “Brandon Grotesque” to put into evidence the confidence and maturity of the company.

The font always appears in uppercase and it is used in the logo as well as in almost all the text which is present on the website. This evokes an idea of elegance and competence but at the same time, with the help of some images, it lets leak out the sense of humour which distinguishes Comedy Central.

Geometric Fonts: Get some!

Now that we have seen what geometric fonts are, it’s time to hunt down some of the best fonts you can download from the web.

Attitude

The designer of “Attitude”, Emil Kozole, says that the creation of the font was inspired by the Japanese and American popular culture of the early ‘90s. With this font, the designer, wanted to make some experiments with letters and shapes. The result is a typeface not unlike the one used in “Le Parc Records”.

The font has 7 different versions: “regular”, “inline”, “3d”, “sliced”, “soldier”, “drunk” and “wasted”. Each version, with the only exception of “inline”, has 2 different styles: “regular” and “alternate”. Since “Attitude” is minimal but also stylish, it can be used for posters, clothes design, magazines and cd covers and, of course, for headings of websites.

The font can be downloaded for free.

Download link

Biko

[Biko.png]

Biko is a geometric sans serif font created by Marco Ugolini for Monofonts. The name is a tribute to Steve Biko, a South African activist who fought against the Apartheid.

Biko has a friendly but also strong character which makes the typeface good for websites, mobile apps, texts and logos.  It is available in four different families: light, regular, bold and black.

If you need the font for personal use, you can download Biko for free at: http://ift.tt/1i0yiy7.

Download link

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by Simone Sala via SitePoint