Font psychology is the visual and emotional response you have to fonts. The Kolenda Font Model explains step-by-step how we perceive fonts and what we associate with them. For example, bold font for a fitness brand will be perceived as thick and bulky. The perception will also be associated with the fitness brand.

Font psychology

<ul><li>Typography is the art of creating a message that looks visually pleasing. For example, if you want to evoke thoughts of tallness or slimness, adjust the spacing or decide if the upper or lower case will impact people's perception.</li><li>Shape psychology focuses on the geometric form and creates emotion and feeling. For example, a font with more roundness creates a relaxing wave.</li><li>Colour psychology plays a role in changing mood. The right shape and colour can be used to create the mood you want to embody.</li></ul>

Typography, shape and colour psychology

Serif fonts are the most traditional font option and are often used to create a classic, traditional and stable look and feel. This font is great for brands and businesses that feel established, or to evoke a feeling of trust and respectability, for example, law firms, insurance companies and consultants. The most popular serif fonts are Times New Roman, Georgia and Garamond.

Serif fonts

The slab serif fonts are in the same family as serif fonts, but with more bold confidence and youth. Slab serif fonts are squared off giving a chunkier look and feel. Slab serif fonts are excellent for businesses that want to leave a lasting impact. Popular slab serif fonts include Courier, Rockwell and Museo.

Slab serif fonts

Sans serif fonts are clean, crisp and modern. They are minimal and engaging. These fonts convey a no-nonsense attitude but also feel open and progressive. Tech companies prefer these fonts as well as forward-thinking and modern brands. Classic examples of this font are Arial, Century Gothic and Helvetica.

San serif fonts

Script fonts have a feeling of femininity and elegance. They are fun and romantic and mimick forms of handwriting and doodling. Script fonts inspire other creative ideas and feel rich in emotion and history. They're great for visual brands but should be used with caution as they can leave text feeling illegible. Familiar examples include Lucida Script, Lobster and Zapfino.

Script fonts

Modern fonts take on a futuristic look, but it's found in 18th-century history. Modern fonts combine practicality and playfulness. It varies thick and thin strokes. These fonts create a sense of exclusivity and intellect. It is great for announcing your brand, particularly for attracting the millennial demographic.  Examples include Matchbook, Politica and Klavika.

Modern fonts

Display fonts are used for large-format mediums such as billboards, headings, and book covers. They can be serif, slab serif, or sans serif. They can also be unique and can have a pictorial element to them. Display fonts can create a more casual, fun, or unique look. The font can be changed to suit your personality and is ideal for any business.  Examples include Bombing, Gigi and Jokerman.

Display fonts

Font psychology has the power to drive your decisions and goals. Understanding how people react to fonts can influence how your target audience perceives your design and business. Your design font should inspire and empower your message. For example, using the proper signage fonts when designing for a flash sale will help prompt consumers to buy instead of browsing. Likewise, the right combination of fonts for social media posts increases consumers' likeliness to return and engage with your content.

Why you should use font psychology

We see millions of fonts each day, but we will only remember the successful ones. A good, successful font comes in the form of font psychology - meaning you connect the emotional and visual action to the font you choose to represent you. The digital age has strengthened that connection and is why brands and businesses should carefully consider what fonts are most successful.

A good successful font

Understanding how fonts influence our decisions can help in picking the right font for your business. This article lists the different types of fonts and the feelings they evoke. 

Font psychology is the connected emotional and visual reaction to fonts. That's why it's important for brands and businesses to pick a font carefully. Let’s take a closer look at what font psychology means, what it says about you and your business, and which styles best represent you.