Common Typography Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them

Typography Basics

Typography is often the unsung hero of design, working quietly behind the scenes to make your visuals stand out. Knowing how to use typography effectively can transform your design from mediocre to exceptional.

Why Typography Matters

Typography isn’t just about choosing a font and placing it on a website; it’s also about creating a cohesive visual experience. It is the art of making text not only readable but also readable. Here’s why it’s important:

• Legibility and readability: Good typography ensures that words are easy to read and do not strain the eyes.
• Visual Order: It guides your eyes around the design like a friendly tour guide, helping to create a more seamless flow.
• Branding: Typography gives a company its unique identity, much like Coca-Cola has its signature style.
• Aesthetic Appeal: It makes designs visually appealing, keeping people engaged and interested.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our article on typography basics for graphic designers.

Common Typography Slip-ups

Messing up typography can make your work appear cluttered and confusing. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for:

• Too Many Fonts: Using more fonts than necessary can lead to visual chaos. Keep it simple by limiting the number of fonts you use.
• Bad Font Match: Choose fonts that complement each other, like peas and carrots, rather than fonts that clash, like oil and water.
•  Missing Hierarchy: It should be clear which elements are most important. Use different font sizes and styles to establish a hierarchy in your text.
• Spacing Issues: Poor line spacing and kerning can make your text look jumbled. Proper spacing is essential for a neat appearance.
• Alignment Problems: Misalignment is akin to hanging crooked pictures on the wall. Ensure everything is aligned correctly for a tidy look.
• Color Considerations: Insufficient contrast can make text difficult to read, especially for individuals who require clear visuals. Use eye-friendly colors to help your readers.

Avoid these errors to enhance your design skills. For more insightful tips, check out our guide on advanced typography for UI/UX. By refining these fundamentals, you can create more striking and effective designs. Continue to improve your typography skills to elevate your work. Interested in typography’s broader impact? Read more about its influence in our article on typography and social impact.

Typeface Selection

Choosing the right typeface isn’t merely a design choice; it significantly influences how people perceive and comprehend a project. However, it’s easy to make mistakes.

Using Too Many Fonts

One common typographical mistake to Avoid is using too many fonts in a single design. Combining several typefaces can create a chaotic and disjointed appearance. To maintain a cohesive look, it’s best to stick to one or two fonts, at most three. This approach ensures your design remains clear and polished. Consistency in typefaces is especially important for branding, as it helps create a strong and recognizable identity.

Improper Font Pairing

Mixing fonts that don’t complement each other is a common mistake in typography. Poor font pairings can make a design look unpolished and confuse viewers. To achieve a clean and cohesive appearance, choose fonts that harmonize well in terms of style, weight, and size.

When selecting fonts, consider using a distinctive typeface for titles and a more subtle one for the body text. This approach ensures readability and creates a smooth flow throughout the design. If you’re interested in more advanced techniques, check out our article on advanced typography for UI/UX.

Keeping the font game simple and making bright pairings can make your designs look top-notch. To get more tips, check out Typography Basics for Graphic Designers and Typography Inspiration 2025.

Hierarchy and Readability

When it comes to typography, it’s not just about picking fancy fonts; you’re on a shopping spree. Establishing a clear hierarchy and keeping things readable is where the magic happens. But beware, my friend, two significant mistakes loom large: a lack of a clear layout and terrible line spacing that will leave your text looking like a poorly composed collage.

Lack of Hierarchical Structure

A well-structured hierarchy in typography serves as a friendly map for your readers. In a chaotic environment, people can easily become lost amidst the confusion. Here’s where many individuals often stumble:

• All Font Sizes Shouldn’t Be Equal: What is the ideal size for headings compared to regular text? Using the same size for everything is like wearing the same outfit every day. Adding variety enhances clarity and visual appeal.
• One Style Doesn’t Fit All: Using the same weight and style for all text leads to a monotonous experience. No one wants to encounter a visual flatline while reading.

How to Fix:

• Mix-Up Font Sizes: Vary the font sizes of your text and guide readers through your content.
  

  Text Piece	Good Font Size (px)
  Headings	24 – 32
  Subheadings	18 – 22
  Body Text	12 – 16

• Play with Weights and Styles: Use bold for a headline that shouts, italics for a gentle nudge. and underline sparingly to make your point stick.

Want more on styling with hierarchy? Check out our primer on typography basics for graphic designers.

Poor Line Spacing and Kerning

Line spacing should ease the reader’s way through the text, not cause them to strain their eyes. And kerning, the space between characters, keeps the text from looking like boxed letters in a ransom note.

Common Issues:

• Squished Lines: When lines crowd together, they won’t glide effortlessly from one to the next. Ouch, eyes strained.
• Wide Character Gaps: Too much space between letters can make text look like a poorly cut ransom note—completely disconnected.

How to Fix:

• Space Out Lines: Give them some breathing room. Aim for a line spacing of around 120% to 150% of your font size for maximum comfort.
  

  Font Size (px)	Good Line Spacing (px)
  12	14.4 – 18
  16	19.2 – 24
  20	24 – 30

• Tweak that Kerning: Adjust it to keep things tight and tidy. Nail it in display texts and headlines for extra polish.

For more neat tricks, dive into our piece on advanced typography for UI UX.

Avoiding these common blunders will keep your designs clear and your readers less cranky. Are you hungry for more? Sink your teeth into our guide on Typography Inspiration 2025, which is loaded with fresh ideas and top tips.

Alignment and Consistency

Keeping Alignment on Point

One big no-no in typography is misaligning text. When your text isn’t in sync, it can throw the whole design off, making it look unprofessional. Maintaining good alignment ensures everything remains readable and visually appealing.

Designers often encounter roadblocks when trying to maintain consistent alignment. It’s essential to choose one alignment style (such as left, right, or center) and adhere to it consistently. Throwing different alignments all over the place jumbles up the look and can confuse readers.

Want more tips? Designers should check out typography basics for graphic designers for more insights.

Consistency is Key with Fonts

Using a variety of font styles can make your design appear messy and chaotic. Keeping your fonts consistent makes everything hang together nicely.

When picking your fonts, here are some things to chew on:

• Font Weight: Stick to just a few weights, such as regular, bold, and italic. Mixing them up too much can mess with the look.
• Font Size: Maintain a clear hierarchy for headings and the main title to ensure readability.
• Reading: Keep those letters evenly spaced for a tidy look. Adjust it as needed to ensure a smooth flow.

Designers seeking top-notch font consistency can explore advanced typography for UI/UX to incorporate more sophisticated techniques.

Keeping alignment and font styles in check are must-dos for creating classy and sharp typographic designs. Sidestepping these common blunders can boost the impact of your design creations. Ready to get inspired by fresh typography trends? Check out Typography Inspiration 2025 for a look into the future!

Color and Contrast

Using colors and contrast effectively in typography can significantly impact the appearance and perception of your design. On the other hand, getting it wrong can lead to a list of common mistakes.

Issues with Color Contrast

Getting contrast right is crucial to ensuring your text is legible. If it’s not there, people might struggle, especially those with vision issues. A common blunder in this area is selecting colors that are too similar in shade or brightness.

Using contrast-checking tools can help. For regular text, aim for a contrast level of at least 4.5:1. For bigger text, aim for 3:1. For more tips on typography, check out our article on typography basics for graphic designers.

Lack of Attention to Color Accessibility

Colors should work for everyone. Ignoring this can deter people, especially those with visual impairments, who may struggle to see specific colors.

To amp up accessibility:

• Use contrasting colors for text and background.
• Steer clear of tricky color combos like red-green or blue-purple.
• Mix in patterns and textures for clarity.
• Keep testing designs with accessibility tools.

To meet color accessibility standards, designers should utilize the guidelines and tools available online. For more information on how typography and accessibility work together, see our guide to advanced typography for UI/UX.

Taking these steps can help avoid typography traps related to color and contrast, resulting in more welcoming and impactful designs.

Tips for Improving Typography

Getting the best out of typography involves paying close attention to some guiding principles and dodging common pitfalls. This section offers hands-on tips to elevate your typography skills without breaking a sweat.

Simplifying Font Choices

Imagine a design trying to wear too many hats—it can get messy! Sticking with just a couple of fonts keeps things looking tidy and clear. Stick to using two, maybe three typefaces: one for headings, another for the main text, and possibly a third for a bit of flair or emphasis. Here’s

Here’s a quick guide to font usage:

For a deeper dive into selecting the right fonts, consider our article on font selection for branding.

Prioritizing Readability

Clear text is key to ensuring your message resonates. If you can’t comfortably read it, the whole point is lost. Factors such as line spacing, font size, and readability all play a significant role in the overall readability.

Keep these pointers in mind for maximum readability:

• Space outlines: Readability 22 times the font size for smoother reading.
• Make sure your body text is no smaller than 16px.
• Use high color contrast between the text and its background for easy reading.

Find how to juggle readability and killer design in our piece on advanced typography for UI/UX.

Ensuring Consistency Across Designs

When it comes to typography, keeping it consistent is like wearing matching socks—a must for looking put-together. Mixing fonts, sizes, and styles haphazardly can make your work appear somewhat disorganized.

To keep things on track:

• Develop a style guide that lists your font choices, sizes, and typographic best practices.
• Use a grid system to ensure everything aligns neatly.
• Make it a habit to check that your design follows what you’ve set.

There are some helpful tools to assist you in adhering to typography guidelines. Check out our article on typography tools in Photoshop and Illustrator for more information.

By bringing these tricks into the mix, your typography skills are bound to shine whether you’re a seasoned vet or a new kid on the block. For those feeling inspired, you can explore our collection at Typography Inspiration 2025.