If you’re a graphic designer just starting out, or perhaps you’re building a website for yourself or your business, it’s essential to know a little thing or two about fonts. The typeface or font you choose matters. Especially in web design or branding, it’s the first thing most people interact with. And first impressions matter. It matters a hell of a lot in print too. Your font choice directly informs the accessibility, perception and quality of interaction.
That’s why it’s good to know the basics, such as font styles. This will mean you’re better informed in picking the best font for you. Afterall, fonts can convey a lot. Some are more versatile fonts than others. Some are super striking. Others are web-optimised whilst many are primed for print. Whatever the case, knowing which type genre to reach for – and why – can make all the difference
At Pangram Pangram, we love breaking rules, but we also love knowing them. So here’s a breakdown of the core typeface genres, what makes each tick, and which of our fonts hit the mark.
Serif fonts
Serif typefaces are defined by the small lines or “feet” at the ends of their strokes. Historically rooted in Roman inscriptions, serifs are associated with tradition, elegance, and authority – but that doesn’t mean they’re boring. From delicate to dramatic, serifs bring personality in spades.
One serif that ticks all the boxes is Editorial New. Classic meets contemporary in this narrow serif with striking curves and crisp contrast. With a slight whiff of the 1990s, it’s a perfect font for fashion contexts, big headline displays, long-form copy or anything that needs a bit of editorial drama.
Try PP Editorial New
If you’re on the hunt for a serif, you may also be interested in:
PP Hatton
A refined humanist serif inspired by London’s Hatton Garden signage. Old-school elegance meets modern geometry.
PP Pangaia
A softer, nature-inspired serif with organic curves and earthy rhythm.
Sans Serif fonts
Sans serifs drop the “feet” in favour of clean, unadorned letterforms. They’re typically associated with being more modern, legible, and infinitely adaptable – the go-to genre for digital interfaces, that’s for sure.
Neue Montreal is a modern classic of the genre. This versatile grotesque bridges utility and style. It’s a contemporary workhorse that adapts beautifully to branding, UI, and even sports (yes, it was used by Montreal FC, which is pretty cool).
Try PP Neue Montreal
If you fancy a sans serif, you may also be interested in:
PP Right Grotesk
A confident sans serif with subtle personality quirks, perfect for when you want something just... right.
PP Neue Corp
Neue Corp is a combination of old-school eccentricity – inspired by old wood type – and modern, neo-grotesque precision.
Monospaced fonts
In monospaced typefaces, every character takes up the same horizontal space. Originating from physical printing – such as typewriters – nowadays, it’s typically associated with code and digital spaces. Due to their structure, monos are rigid, rhythmic and increasingly stylish.
With button-mode features, coding ligatures and a massive glyph set, Neue Montreal Mono is a monospace that bridges developer practicality and designer aesthetic. Plus, it pairs perfectly with the regular cut of Neue Montreal, making it a perfect font pairing.
Try PP Neue Montreal Mono
If you’re looking for a monospace typeface, you may also be interested in:
PP Lettra Mono
A serif mono with strong vertical contrast and botanical detail – great for print, branding or semi-nostalgic digital design.
PP Model Mono
Clean, modular, and inspired by vintage plastic model kits. Techy and tidy, with Hiragana, Katakana and measurement glyphs built in.
Display fonts
Display fonts are your statement-makers. They’re loud, expressive, and best used big. They are typically used as the primary fonts in a design, designed for headlines, posters, album covers and the like. Basically, anywhere you want to grab someone’s attention with typographic personality.
Inspired by vintage watch dials and the precision of horology, PP Watch is a prime example of a display font, with a wide, elegant, and rhythmically unique design. It’s subtle but powerful – and it comes with alternate serifed forms for extra flair.
Try PP Watch
If you want a font that can carry your design, you may also be interested in:
OT Jubilee
An eccentric, royal sans from our sister foundry Off Type. Think Windsor meets Gill Sans with a smirk.
OT Bulb
Inspired by light bulbs and dot matrix printing, Bulb blurs the line between readable and radiant. A Watt axis (yes, really) lets you crank the intensity from 100 to 900.
Script fonts
Script fonts mimic handwriting or calligraphy, often being flowing and expressive. As fonts, they are ideal for logomarks, wordmarks and could lean into more pretty, quaint or elegant branding – anywhere that calls for a human, personal touch. That said, in the right context, they can look remarkably contemporary.
An example of this is Playground, a semi-connected script that reinterprets copperplate calligraphy with an experimental spirit. Use the basic caps for elegance, or switch on swashes and ligatures for flair and flourish
Try PP Playground
If you’re looking for a monospace typeface, you may also be interested in:
PP Lettra Mono
A serif mono with strong vertical contrast and botanical detail – great for print, branding or semi-nostalgic digital design.
PP Model Mono
Clean, modular, and inspired by vintage plastic model kits. Techy and tidy, with Hiragana, Katakana and measurement glyphs built in.
Understanding Weights and Widths
Fonts don’t just come in genres, they also come in weights (how thick the strokes are) and widths (how wide the characters are). These extra parameters give you enormous control over tone and function.
Weights can typically range from Thin to Black. Thinner weights feel light, refined, or subtle. Heavier weights feel bold, loud, or solid.
Width goes from Condensed (narrow letters) to Extended (wide letters). Narrow fonts save space and create tension; wide fonts feel expansive and relaxed.
Some fonts offer full axes of these, including Agrandir, which features 5 widths × 7 weights, letting you go from punchy headlines to tight body copy in one family. Similarly, Model includes Mono, Plastic, and Wide styles – built to explore design systems with maximum flexibility.
Understanding these options means you can match mood to function: tight and technical? Go mono and condensed. Luxurious and loud? Go wide and heavy.
From serif to sans, mono to script, knowing your basic genres (and how they behave) makes for better design.
And if you’re looking for a shortcut to trying them all, then look no further than the Font Starter Pack. It’s our all-in-one bundle, featuring 71 typefaces, 950+ styles, mockups, and early access to new releases. Basically, everything you need to level up your type game in one neatly zipped file.
Your next favourite font might just be in there. Why not find out?
