How do you balance fonts for readability and aesthetics?

1 Choose fonts that match your brand and audience

The first step to balance fonts is to select fonts that align with your brand identity and target audience. For example, if you are designing a mobile app for a professional service, you might want to use fonts that are clean, elegant, and formal, such as Helvetica or Times New Roman. On the other hand, if you are designing a mobile game for children, you might want to use fonts that are fun, playful, and colorful, such as Comic Sans or Poppins. Choosing fonts that match your brand and audience will help you create a consistent and engaging mobile experience.

2 Use fonts that are legible and adaptable

The second step to balance fonts is to use fonts that are legible and adaptable to different screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations. For example, you should avoid fonts that are too thin, too ornate, or too similar to each other, as they might be hard to read on small screens or in low-light conditions. You should also avoid fonts that have too much variation in height, width, or spacing, as they might break or distort on different devices or orientations. Instead, you should use fonts that are clear, simple, and scalable, such as Roboto or Arial. Using fonts that are legible and adaptable will help you improve the usability and accessibility of your mobile design.

3 Limit the number and contrast of fonts

The third step to balance fonts is to limit the number and contrast of fonts you use in your mobile design. For example, you should avoid using more than two or three fonts in your mobile design, as they might create visual clutter and confusion. You should also avoid using fonts that are too similar or too different from each other, as they might create inconsistency and disharmony. Instead, you should use fonts that complement each other and create a hierarchy and balance in your mobile typography. For example, you can use a serif font for headings and a sans serif font for body text, or vice versa. You can also use different weights, sizes, or colors of the same font family to create contrast and emphasis. Limiting the number and contrast of fonts will help you enhance the clarity and harmony of your mobile design.

4 Test and tweak your fonts

The final step to balance fonts is to test and tweak your fonts on different devices, platforms, and scenarios. For example, you should test your fonts on different screen sizes, resolutions, and orientations, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. You should also test your fonts on different operating systems, browsers, and apps, such as iOS, Android, Chrome, and Safari. You should also test your fonts on different contexts, such as day and night modes, dark and light backgrounds, and online and offline modes. Testing and tweaking your fonts will help you optimize your fonts for readability and aesthetics in your mobile design.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?