Don’t Call It a Comeback….
No, I’m not quoting the awesome LL Cool J song I KNOW all of you have on your iPods. I’m instead talking about the reference to a “typography comeback” in 2010. Whether or not this is actually a “comeback” isn’t the theme for this article but instead I’d like to encourage all of you to spice up your marketing pieces or Web site pages this year with… ready for it… typography! Designing materials full of corporate stock photos are SO 2009. Instead, let’s live on the edge and add some interesting type to your designs. Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as you think. Heck, you can even put some of these suggestions in place with your favorite office products. So go ahead, read on…

Step Out of That Comfort Zone…
So you have a little bit of a marketing budget to play with and you want to do something new for that conference flyer this year. Why not buy a new typeface?

Your questions on type answered:
Q: There are other typefaces available besides Arial, Times New Roman and Comic Sans?
A: But of course! Unless you’re in the design field, maybe you don’t know about the numerous resources available to expand your typographic library. That’s why we’re here to help. Earlier this year, MyFonts.com came up with a list of the top 10 2009 fonts. Showcasing various scripts, squarish sans-serifs, contemporary serifs, and calligraphic display fonts, this list is a good place to start when attempting to expand your typographic palette.

Q: Cool – but aren’t fonts expensive?
A: Well, yes and no. It really depends on what you’re looking for. If you have some time to explore, you can find some fonts as cheap as $20 (individual font) or as expensive as $300 (for a collection). It depends on the font, and of course your budget.

Here are a couple of typography Web sites I encourage you to check out:
www.myfonts.com
www.fonts.com
www.fonthaus.com
www.fontdiner.com

Most fonts, if not all, are available for both PC and Mac computers, and the majority of the typography sites will let you choose your operating system platform when you check out – so ordering is easy!

Q: I saw this font the other day and I have no idea what it is. Where can I find out?
A: Good question! My Fonts has a great service called “What the font” where you can upload an image or submit a URL, and they’ll find the most similar font available within their database. Pretty cool huh?

Get Those Creative Juices Flowing…
Q: Ok, so I’ve got my cool new fonts but now what?
A: Well that’s only the beginning! Open up your favorite program, and let’s start exploring! The best illustration of all the ways you can use your fancy new fonts can be found in this excellent article from Smashing Magazine on 50 Useful Design Tools for Beautiful Web Typography. The article actually references the different ways you can use typography to enhance your Web pages, but I thought it was a good place to start. Since the Web is much more limiting with what you can do creatively, imagine how you can enhance your print campaigns starting with the suggestions they make for the Web! However, if you need a little visual inspiration, Smashing Magazine also has some examples of creative print typography layouts.

So, there are a few ideas in a nutshell – but it’s only the beginning. Take a couple of seconds to notice how typography is used in magazines, direct mail pieces, Web sites, and billboards around you. Then try something different the next time you sit down to draft an online or printed piece. It’s amazing how something so simple as type can make an enormous impact.

Love the ideas but just can’t wrap your head around how to implement them? Want to create something new, but you don’t have the time to create anything yourself? Throw us a bone! At Good Dog/Bad Dog Creative Design, we’d be happy to chat with you about your marketing initiatives and how to give them a fresh look for the new year. Take a look at our Web site for more information on how to give us a shout.

Tags: fonts, graphic design tips, tampa graphic design, tampa website design, type design, typography library, typography websites, web site type design