For those of you who have not heard of Google Fonts, here’s a brief introduction to Google Fonts.
Launched in 2010, Google Fonts (previously known as Google Web Fonts) is an interactive directory of Open Source fonts that aims to make it quick and easy for everyone to use web fonts. Read more about Google Fonts here.
I have also included a brief guide on how you can use Google Fonts on your website at the end of this article.
Join me as I present to you the 10 best Google Fonts that you can use as web fonts on your webpages, and/or download them as a .zip file.
1. Oswald
Oswald is a reworking of the classic style historically represented by the ‘Alternate Gothic’ sans serif typefaces. The typeface of Oswald have been re-designed and reformed to better fit the pixel grid of standard digital screens.
2. Shadows Into Light
Designed by Kimberly Geswein, this is one of the cutest free fonts I have come across.
3. Roboto
Roboto features a geometric form with a mechanical skeleton, while at the same time having friendly and open curves.
Also, Roboto does not distort its letterforms to force a rigid rhythm and so, its typefaces are settled into their natural width. This makes for a more natural reading rhythm more commonly found in humanist and serif types.
4. Pacifico
Designer Vernon Adams was inspired by the 1950s American surf culture when she created this fun brush script handwritten font.
5. Cabin
Cabin is a typeface inspired by Edward Johnston’s and Eric Gill’s typefaces, with a touch of modernism. Created by Pablo Impallari, Cabin incorporates optical adjustments, modern proportions, as well as elements of the geometric sans.
6. Merriweather Sans
Merriweather Sans is a sans-serif typeface family designed to be pleasant to read at very small sizes. This typeface has a traditional feel despite the modern shapes it has adopted for screens.
7. Open Sans
Designed by Steve Matteson, Open Sans is a humanist sans serif typeface with excellent legibility characteristics in its letterforms that can be optimized for print, web, and mobile interfaces.
8. Playfair Display
Playfair Display is a transitional design well suited for headlines and titling. Playfair Display is great when used together with Georgia, where Georgia is used for body text.
9. Crafty Girls
Designer Crystal Kluge was inspired by crochet hooks, glitter, and grandma’s button box when she created this typeface. This casual handwritten letterform is the perfect compliment to all your projects.
10. Alegreya
In September 2011, Alegreya was chosen as one of 53 “Fonts of the Decade” at the ATypI Letter2 competition, and one of the top 14 text type systems. It was also selected in the 2nd Bienal Iberoamericana de Diseño, competition held in Madrid in 2010.
Alegreya is great in facilitating the reading of long texts as its letters convey a dynamic and varied rhythm.
As promised at the start of this article, I shall now briefing explains how you can use Google Fonts on your website.
How to Use Google Fonts on Your Website
1. Choose the Style You Want
2. Choose the Character Sets You Want
3. Add the Code to Your Website:
4. Integrate the Fonts into Your CSS:
And that’s it! Enjoy using your newfound fonts on your projects and leave your comments below if you have found a great free font you would like to recommend to other designers.
