What fonts should be used to create presentations

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

British design agency Buffalo 7, known for its presentations, shared the secrets of choosing fonts. Lifehacker publishes an abridged translation.

Serif or Sans-Serif

All typefaces can be divided into two main families: Serif and Sans-Serif. The first is distinguished by serifs - short strokes at the ends of letters. Sans-Serif typefaces do not have serifs. It is believed that strokes make the text easier to read by making the letters more legible and guiding the eye along the lines.

Historically, the Serif family has been widely used in printed materials. And Sans-Serif has caught on on the web. Therefore, serif fonts are associated with classics, and without strokes - with something modern. Keep this in mind when choosing fonts for your presentation.

If, for example, you are talking about the company's rich heritage and history, Serif is probably your best bet. But when it comes to an innovative product or initiative, then Sans-Serif is probably worth choosing.

Everything is good in moderation

Try not to use more than 2-3 headsets in one presentation. The type of font creates visual coherence and brings together pieces of content into one whole when other images and other elements are different. Larger typefaces can compromise the integrity of your presentation.

Decide which fonts you will use to create headings, subheadings, and body of your presentation. Observe your choices on each slide. Cool tip: use the same font for these three elements, but with different weights.

Line length

The length of the text line plays an important role in creating a consistent and structured markup.

Short lines are easier to read than long ones. When the eyes don't need to make too long transitions, we perceive the text better. This is why magazines and newspapers traditionally use the column format. This makes reading faster and easier.

Acceptable line length is 45–90 characters on average, including spaces. This amount is offered by the Butterick's Practical Typography text design guide, written by American typographer Matthew Butterick.

6 best fonts according to Buffalo 7

A versatile set that's perfect for any - formal at least - presentation.

1. Lucida Console

This monospaced font is highly readable and looks great in titles and headings.

2. Helvetica

The beauty of Helvetica is that it retains its sharpness even when small. This is why this font is great for text in the body of a presentation.

3. Futura

The personality of this neat font is enough to spice up your presentation. It will add brightness without distracting from the point.

4. Myriad Pro

The Myriad Pro is known for being used by Apple for years. If it's good enough for such a company, then this font will probably work for your presentation as well. The Myriad Pro looks elegant yet discreet.

5. Calibri

A very common font, although the others on this list can hardly be called unpopular. Calibri won't surprise anyone, but in a professional setting, you don't need to.

6. Gill Sans

Despite the fact that this font was created in 1928, it does not look old-fashioned. But it has a classic touch that sets Gill Sans apart from new fonts. It is suitable for the body of the presentation as well as titles and headings.