Can something as simple as a font change the meaning not only of words, but of the entire website layout? Absolutely! It's like reading the same book in a different edition (a printed one, of course). Usually, the fonts differ too. Even though you know the plot and what emotions to expect, the overall perception of the story changes. Recently on our blog, we talked about how color can transform web design, how photos influence user perception, and even what kind of design is considered “feminine” or “masculine.” But when it comes to typography, we only covered general topics.

In reality, font can help you connect with visitors, highlight your brand, and set the tone of your project. The wrong font, on the other hand, will make your site feel impersonal and disconnected—it may even change the perception of the brand altogether. So what if we take this knowledge and actually apply it? Let’s take a closer look at some practical examples.

Mood

It might sound crazy, but yes—fonts have moods. And just like human emotions, fonts express themselves subtly, differently from their surroundings, sometimes even shyly. But this “mood” creates a connection with the project, because it helps users understand and *feel* the content. It builds a multi-level link between what you're doing, who it's for, and who you are. That’s why it’s crucial to understand what kind of message or style you (or your client) want to communicate, and how the font supports that.

The project ginoangelinifoods is a great example of how to combine different font types. But look deeper: chili peppers are spicy, intense—not everyone likes them. The font used for the word “BENVENUTI” (welcome) is also sharp, with serifs, elegant and somewhat formal. That doesn’t mean the owner is unfriendly—it simply reflects that chili is a key ingredient in the dishes. Then look at the tomatoes: soft, juicy, delicate. The italic font reflects that mood. And altogether? Just one block of text manages to convey the feel of a classic Italian tomato sauce. Then comes the balance of lemon’s tang with buttery cheese.

A similar example is goodfour, which invites people to join a community cleanup event on April 4th. They call it “happy hour,” and happiness is often associated with soft pastel pinks and bright yellow tones. That’s why the font is airy and light, without excessive ornamentation—like a fleeting breeze of joy.

Everything Is Relative

Let’s compare two versions of the word “Day.” Just a regular day. But see how differently the text feels...

Typography

There’s no exact science for matching fonts. We’ve mentioned before that many web designers dedicate their lives to studying typography, but note—the keyword is “studying,” because typography constantly evolves, just like trends in colors, images, block layouts, shadows, and more. In truth, most typography is intuitive. A quick glance at a word or phrase often reveals its tone. If you’re still unsure what we mean, scroll back to the “Day” example above.

That said, there are still a few tips for choosing fonts that support different moods.

Now take a closer look at the example websites we’ve selected and compare the fonts: what meaning do they carry, what do they express, and how do they shape the content? These include chateau-des-avenieres, playdoh, ouigo, bucketlistly, mcafee, gbksoft, advery, ai_brief. You'll find vintage, geometric, bubbly, serious, thin, serif, and sans-serif fonts.

Just Avoid Clichés

One of the biggest challenges for a web designer when working with fonts is to avoid falling into the trap of using clichés, or fonts that most visitors perceive as stereotypical. You can find tons of advice online about which font fits which project, but once you start applying that advice, the result often falls flat. That’s because such advice ignores the subtle nuances of each individual site and topic. As a result, people may view your design as a “clone” or cliché.

Every designer wants to find that perfect font that makes the whole layout visually stunning. That’s great — but when you revisit your work later, you might find it lacks impact. That’s why working with typography is considered a form of art.

You may want to pair serif fonts with emotionally intense content or use a script typeface to make something feel more formal. In any case, try choosing one font for uppercase or large titles, and another for the rest of the content. This is where font pairings come in — like mixing serif and sans-serif fonts from the same family, or blending vintage with modern.

For example, the project about culture and travel in South Korea uses both a thin linear font and a bold serif. And the site for brass electric products meljac effectively uses one main font in multiple variations.

Font Background

An essential part of font choice and conveying your message or mood is the background — what surrounds the text. This could include background images, text blocks, color schemes, or even another font. The same phrase on different backgrounds will carry completely different tones and evoke different emotions.

Different combinations create different experiences for users. In the second example, a simpler, sharper font might have been more suitable. These fonts are neutral in nature and gain meaning from their environment.

Think About the Audience

Although it may seem that a designer carefully calculates every aspect of a layout to create a polished final product, that’s not entirely true. When it comes to typography and mood, no designer can fully predict how end users will interpret a font. You can guess — but never guarantee 100%.

For example, take a look at campcody, communitysectorbanking, chobani, comicneue — note the similarities to Comic Sans. Or check out this logo collection featuring Comic Sans and its relatives. Many designers avoid that font altogether, mocking or criticizing anyone who uses it — even friends who try to hide it under a different name.

On the other hand, Comic Sans is still widely used in brochures, signage, logos, and headings. While one group may see a “design problem,” others genuinely enjoy it. The same applies to fonts in general — some prefer bold and formal, others adore handwritten styles, while some insist on monospace only.

Everyone is different and evaluates design from their own perspective — and they’re all right in their own way. That’s why web designers don’t just design layouts in Photoshop; they also study their audience and bombard clients with questions like: Who is this for? What’s the purpose of the site? All of this helps predict how the design and typography will be received. Sometimes users even directly complain about a font choice.

And even if you don’t find the perfect font for every project, it’s still wise to consider the audience’s expectations and emotions. That’s a much more practical approach.

5 Unusual Fonts

Whether you choose a specific font or not, it should at least be interesting. Everyone’s faced that moment when a great design is ruined by a mismatched font. So here are five unique fonts that designers sometimes use. Some people find them awkward; others just enjoy them.

Papyrus – Hard to read and rarely suitable for modern designs.

Jokerman – Every version includes little serifs, bubbles, spikes—and paired with color, it can look absurd. Still, it has niche applications depending on the theme.

Times New Roman – A classic font for school essays or articles, but often seen as lazy or uninspired. Still, it can add a retro charm.

Impact – Great for grabbing attention in sales or promos. Unfortunately, its overuse in memes damaged its reputation.

Comic Sans – Already discussed above.

Here are some websites that combine fonts and visuals in a way that feels both professional and emotional: monokitchen, sudtipos, cityhero, twenty-twenty, simone-simon, minthisresort, landing., voodoomaniacs.

Conclusion

Your mood, your visitors’ mood, and the mood of the typography — together they shape the overall vibe of a project. A font becomes more than just text. Its appearance and form matter.

Keep everything we discussed in mind when designing for your audience. Imagine a sports website using a handwriting font — it doesn’t fit; it feels confusing. A heavier, bolder font better expresses strength, energy, and drive.

Choosing the right font isn’t always easy. But don’t worry—sometimes pairing different type families works. Or just stick to trusted standards. One thing’s certain: fonts can influence mood, transform perception, and bring emotional depth to your project. Incredible, mysterious, and totally real.