What is timeless and never gets old? The answer is something classic. This also applies to design. When you run out of ideas and want to play safe, some classic fonts are always your go-to fonts.
What makes a classic font? It is a font that has been around for a very, very long time. Right now, the oldest font is probably Helvetica. It has been around and used since 1950s. Some people still use that as part of their work.
Another font that is considered classic is Lucida, which was created by Charles Bigelow and Kris Holmes in 1986. Every generation may have different ideas on what makes something ‘classic.’ For example, your father will probably frown when you consider Oasis a ‘classic rock’ band since he will object and mention ‘Deep Purple.’
To complete the list, here are the commonly used classic fonts, whether in print or in digital work:
Why are these classic stuff still favourites to many? Well, their readability level is easy, for starters. Another reason is their flexibility, since they can look well in different sizes and weights. They can also adapt to a variety of styles and moods.
Perhaps every designer has their own reasons, but here are probably some of the reasons why they should own classic fonts in their work:
Some fonts may have the dramatic effect, while the other ones show nothing but rigid professionalism. For example: Garamond is the option for that.
For example: Times News Roman has been used by many due to its flexibility – appearing professional and casual at the same time.
Even before the internet era, there were already plenty of options for classic fonts. Most of them do not even go out of style. They are timeless.
Before the digital era, many people have been satisfied enough with the existence of these fonts. Even after there have been newer fonts, there are people who still prefer using the classic versions. They may really love them or just want to play safe.
Either way, choosing classic fonts is still a win-win solution.
So, what are the examples of must-have classic fonts for all designers? Check the top ten (10) list below:
Although not as popular as the other classic fonts on Microsoft Word, Marmalede is something you should try. Offering sophistication and refinement, this slim font looks somewhat familiar – something you would probably see in typical art decoration in galleries. Marmalede is perfect for fashion blogs, editorial work, and also high-end brands.
This classic font is combined with a vintage style and an elegant handwritten design. The font is basically retro, in plain white to contrast the more colorful or darker background. There is a sense of warmth and a nostalgic vibe here. You can use Alhambra for sophisticated posters and greeting cards.
Ragussa is not purely classic because it is a mixture of modern styles. The result is an elegant font that can be used for logos, quotes, posters, invitations, and many more. The classic touch can be seen in the letter space, while the modern part is the round edge of the letters.
Palatino is one of the Old Style serif fonts. Crafted in 1949 by Herman Zapf, this elegant font family has 20 styles to offer. They even have options for family packages. Palatino is a classic font that was published by Linotype. Most Old Style fonts are perfect for print media.
This is another perfect blend of something classic and modern. As one of the sans serif fonts, Widya mostly consists of monochromatic styles (whether it is black and white or white and gold). To emphasize the classic part, the darker background always consists of a faded photograph of a historical property or an old-looking one.
Suzana Licko designed Mrs. Eaves Serif Font in 1996. Mrs. Eaves is mostly suitable for display contexts. You may probably have seen some samples in book titles and descriptions.
Just like its given name, this classic font does not take much to appear elegant. All it needs is a dark background and a simple white caption in the middle of the frame. There is still enough space in the frame around it. You might probably see this design in editorial content, cover albums, magazine layouts, wedding invitations, and many more.
Graceful can also give off romantic vibes. The only disadvantage of using this design is that it can be copied so easily.
Nimbus Roman No.9 was designed by RW Studio in 1987. Some may consider this an almost twin to the already famous Times New Roman. This is because they both have a similar, general tone.
This classic font is far from monochromatic and dull. In fact, Rough Badge looks merry with colorful backgrounds, shapes, or pictures on the backgrounds and the sharp, distinctive font. Rough Badge is perfect for your social media posts and film titles and/or captions.
Want a classic font with a touch of femininity? Sinclair is the way to be. This font offers elegance and professionalism that is perfect for business. The display may remind you of the typical designs of the retro era – the 70s – and the sans serif font is clean and very much readable.
Sinclair is a perfect font for a chic social media post (like your Instagram) or a catchy film title (especially movies played during summer). If you want to run an office event and the poster uses this font, then why not?
Every designer must have these classic fonts to make things easier for them. These choices are legit.
