Typefaces sort into families of intent: some are built to be read for an hour, some to be seen across a street, some to line up code in columns. Each guide below explains what defines the style, where it shines, where it fails, and which free, properly licensed fonts we'd actually use. No downloads here — every recommendation links to its official source.
Old-style, transitional, and modern: the typefaces books are made of, from Garamond's heirs to screen-era revivals.
AaGrotesque neutrality, geometric confidence, humanist warmth — the workhorses of screens and signage.
AaSerifs with the subtlety removed: blocky, confident type for headlines and brands that want presence.
AaHigh-personality faces built for big sizes and short bursts — plus the rules for not overdosing on them.
AaFormal calligraphy to casual marker pen: intimacy and occasion, with honest legibility caveats.
AaFixed-width faces for code, data, and technical brands — where every character earns the same space.