I started a new white-label web design project recently, and the brand guide included seven different typefaces.
You read that right — seven fonts, all different styles. Some were cursive, some blocky, some clean sans-serifs. A full buffet of font styles, if you will.
If you’ve followed my newsletter for a while, you know my stance: your brand should have 2 to 3 typefaces at most. So when I opened this guide, I was just as shocked as you might be.
My first instinct was to toss out the font lineup completely and find a tactful way to steer the client toward a simpler, more cohesive setup that complimented their brand still.
But here’s the thing — the client liked their brand. They weren’t open to changes, and honestly, I respect that. It’s their brand, and they’re proud of it.
So now the challenge was mine: how do I take this chaotic list of fonts and still create a clean, modern website design?
My solution? Use only 3.
With seven options available, I picked the three that worked best together: one for headings, one for body text, and one for subtle accent use. That’s it.
A brand guide is exactly that — a guide. It doesn’t mean you have to use every single font, color, or logo variation. You use what makes sense for the project at hand.
By simplifying the font usage, I could still stay true to the brand — without letting the design become cluttered or confusing.
Sometimes, good design isn’t about following every rule in the guide — it’s about knowing how to apply them.
If you need a second pair of eyes on making your brand guide work on the web, I’m here to help!
See you next time,
