As e-learning designers, we each have a few favorite go-to fonts that we know we can rely on time and time again. While they're typically tried, tested, and true, if you only use a handful of fonts, your work can start to look stale.
But there are so many options out there, it can be hard to know which ones to choose. That’s why we thought we’d go ahead and share our four favorites. What’s so great about these fonts? Well, not only are they super-sleek and available for free, but they’re also accessibility- and translation-friendly. What could be better than that?
Ready to give your training some fresh impact? Check out these fabulous fonts!
Lato
Lato is the third most popular font on Google Fonts—behind only Roboto and Open Sans—for good reason. It’s a no-nonsense, sans-serif font with enough character that it’s not boring. Originally designed for a Polish bank, it comes in nine different weights and features clean lines while retaining an inviting, handwritten style. The italicized characters have a bit more whimsy, but overall this is a fantastic all-purpose font that can easily pull duty in titles, headers, and body text.
Poppins
Creating content for multiple languages? Look no further than Poppins! The Indian Type Foundry developed it specifically to be ultra-compatible with all languages. Don’t worry about various font weights or modified characters making your content unreadable once it’s translated. Poppins is laser-focused on maintaining character geometry so that it’s always legible, no matter the language.
Lustria
Lustria is a lighter-weight font that’s great for all kinds of applications. Inviting and pressure-free, this font scales nicely on larger displays or when zoomed in on mobile devices. The only downside of this option is that it comes in just a single font weight. But while it might not be as versatile for multiple design elements, it’s an absolute star when it comes to presenting large blocks of content without wearing out your learners.
Oswald
If you need a bold, Gothic-style font, look no further than Oswald. Presented in a variable-weight font package, it’s incredibly easy to apply to titles and headers, really anywhere you want your text to stand out. This take on the “Alternate Gothic” font was created with an eye toward digital presentations. Creating content for the screen? Then Oswald’s your font. Just keep in mind that because the spacing between each character (or kerning) is a bit tight, accessibility is an issue when used at smaller point sizes. For this reason, it’s better to use Oswald where it’s large and can provide the most impact.
Finding Future Favorite Fonts
Fonts are often overlooked, but they’re an essential part of your design. Keeping your font selection current not only ensures that your learning looks fresh but makes it more accessible. And if you build courses in multiple languages, the right font choice will ensure you don’t run into issues during the translation process.
But these four fonts are just the tip of the iceberg. Check out these additional resources for more help selecting fonts:
- 5 Formatting Tips for Creating Dyslexia-Friendly E-Learning
- 5 Inspiring Font Pairings for Your Next E-Learning Project
- 8 Questions To Ask When Choosing Fonts & Formatting Text
And be sure to share your go-to typefaces with us in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.
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Published 10 years ago
Version 1.0
