21 fonts every graphic designer should own

Massimo Vignelli, renowned Italian designer who created the classic American Airlines logo, once said that designers use far too many fonts. There are a few classics that Vignelli has put his stamp of approval on, like Garamond, Bodoni, Helvetica, Univers, Futura, Caslon and Baskerville – between them spanning three centuries of type design history. And most designers would agree that all of the above are timeless, albeit well-worn classics.

But what about those times when you need something a bit different? Sometimes the ubiquitous serifs of Times New Roman just don't quite match your vision. We've put together a selection of top fonts that, although often overlooked, should be in your toolkit. For a more exhaustive list, check out our pick of free fonts, for every font you'll ever need while on a budget.

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Nick Carson
Brand writer and consultant

Nick has worked with world-class agencies including Wolff Olins, Taxi Studio and Vault49 on brand storytelling, tone of voice and verbal strategy for global brands such as Virgin, TikTok, and Bite Back 2030. Nick launched the Brand Impact Awards in 2013 while editor of Computer Arts, and remains chair of judges. He's written for Creative Bloq on design and branding matters since the site's launch.

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