Great typography is about structure and intention. When your headline and body fonts work together, they create a clear reading path, reduce friction, and highlight the information that matters most.
1. Contrast with Cohesion
Choose fonts that are different enough to be useful yet similar enough to feel related. Think of it like an editorial layout: the headline grabs attention, the body keeps readers engaged.
- Headings: Confident and characterful—sets the tone.
- Body: Neutral and highly legible—does the heavy lifting.
Example:
‘Libre Baskerville’ (headings) + ‘Inter’ (body)—classic voice with modern readability.
2. Readability Above All
Prioritize open counters, clear letterforms, and generous spacing. Use a comfortable line height (~1.6–1.8) so paragraphs breathe and scanning is effortless.
- Base size: 16–18px on desktop; scale up on smaller screens.
- Tracking: slight positive letter spacing for all-caps or tiny UI labels.
Preview long passages, not just headings—real content reveals real issues.
3. Limit the Family
Resist the urge to use everything. A tight set is easier to maintain and faster to load.
- One display or serif for headlines.
- One sans-serif for body and UI.
- Optional accent (italic or condensed) for pull quotes or CTAs.
Keep font weights purposeful—regular/medium for text, semibold/bold for emphasis.
4. Color & Contrast That Pass
Readable color contrast is non-negotiable. Aim for WCAG AA (4.5:1 for body). Test your palette early to avoid last-minute fixes.
- Use a darker neutral for paragraphs (e.g., #2b2b2b).
- Reserve accent colors for headings, links, and key UI elements.
Tip:
Check contrast before shipping—small text needs more contrast than large display type.
5. Responsive, Not Just Scalable
Typography should adapt across breakpoints. Adjust size, line length, and spacing so copy remains comfortable on any device.
- Target 45–75 characters per line for body text.
- Use fluid type scales or clamp() for smooth resizing.
Putting the System to Work
Try this starter recipe and refine to match your brand:
- Headings: Libre Baskerville with tight line-height for impact.
- Body: Inter at 18px, line-height 1.7 for comfortable reading.
- Colors: headings #006fbf; body #2b2b2b; links use the heading color.
- Accent: Inter Medium for buttons; Italic for quotes only.
- Audit on mobile and desktop; tweak spacing until scanning feels effortless.
When fonts are chosen with intent, your interface becomes clearer, faster, and more trustworthy—no gimmicks, just solid typographic craft.