Ran Segall’s Post

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On a mission to create the best Design School online: Flux Academy.

Where to find the BEST fonts (hint: not on Google Fonts) This week brings us to my third and final part of what makes great websites: 1. Great photography 2. Copy that makes people read 3. Good typography I want to make things simple for you, so I'll narrow it down to only two things that matter when it comes to typography on the web: Choosing a good font and creating a good typesetting. Choosing a good font: I'm sure that when it comes to clients paying you, you love saying, "Good work is never free!" However, when it comes to fonts, most designers expect them to be free. Why? Creating a good font is hard work. It can sometimes take years to create a great typeface. So you can assume that 99% of free fonts are trash. Except, of course, for Google Fonts. The reason is, Google has enough money to pay good type designers to work for years and give you the font for free. So if (some) Google fonts are good, why not use them? Because everyone else is using them! Fonts, like clothes, not only serve a function but also have styles, fashions, and cultural associations. When something is free and used mostly by people who can't afford to pay, it will be associated with “cheap,” even if it is good. So if you want to stand out and look premium, you'll have to pay to use something that fewer people use. My favorite place to buy fonts (relatively cheaply) is YouWorkForThem https://lnkd.in/dFgFcYm9 But you can also buy directly from type foundries. Here are a few examples (and there are many more): Klim https://lnkd.in/dB3xF7Tw Grilli Type https://lnkd.in/dCGcwBv6 Commercial Type https://lnkd.in/dTANmRh8 Colophon Foundry https://lnkd.in/dnAGura5 When you use a good font, you don't need much else to make your website look good. Even just a big heading on a flat color can look amazing. Next, creating good typesetting. Of course, it's not only the font but how you use it. Typesetting is a huge topic to cover in one email, but here are some guidelines to keep in mind: 1. Contrasted hierarchies. Headings should be clearly bigger/bolder than body type. 2. Make sure you have enough space between the lines (line height) on small text and not too much space between lines on headings. 3. Keep your lines between 8–12 words long. Any longer is harder to follow. 4. Leave enough padding between the edge of the page and the text (especially on mobile). Typography is one of the most important skills for any designer and it takes years to master. So keep learning, exploring, and experimenting, as it will have a huge impact on the sites you design and build.

YouWorkForThem: Your Gateway to Design and Artistry - YouWorkForThem

YouWorkForThem: Your Gateway to Design and Artistry - YouWorkForThem

youworkforthem.com

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