Logotypes are some of my favorite projects to work on. I love trying to solve the problem of having to convey a company’s vision with as little “noise” as possible. A logo should be able to work in its simplest form — devoid of color, gradients, shadows, etc. You need the reader to know what the company is about, their aesthetic, and their tone, with just a few key elements. Choosing the right font is at the heart of solving this problem, as the subtle nuances between fonts can speak a world of difference.

Here are some great resources for free fonts to add to your collection:

• www.blazdesign.com (great source for “Best ____ font” lists)
• www.fontsquirrel.com (In my opinion, the BEST collection of free fonts for commercial use)
• www.dafont.com (I like that you can type your word and preview what it will look like in each font)
• www.1001freefonts.com (a somewhat redundant collection from www.dafont.com, but does have some additional options).

Once you’ve found your font, however, the key is making it your own. Adjust kerning, round corners, flatten serifs — whatever it takes to make the font work for YOU. Here are some examples of logotypes I’ve done for clients in the past that heavily rely on font for design: