When it comes to good design, there is no element, besides color, that is as impactful as type. Being a designer comes with many challenges, including getting that typeface just right. Being a design student really forces you to get creative when your budget is as deflated as your brain after that 8am class. Nonetheless, I have compiled a few of my favorite san serif typefaces that are free to use and can really propel your next design endeavour.
Aileron
First up is Aileron. This type has been a staple in my collection for a couple of years now. The boldness in this type is very reminiscent of Helvetica. For those who don’t know, Helvetica is one of the most widely used and adopted typefaces ever. Many of the Government funded projects use Helvetica. The thing that I also love about Aileron is the wide array of weights that it provides. You could easily use this type family for an entire design. I hope you will give this one a shot and enjoy it as much as I have.
UnB
Next on my list is UnB. This typeface is a recent addition to my collection. UnB is based on the Grotesque family of typefaces. This type is very ‘utilitarian’ in my eyes due to its robust nature and legibility from a distance. Much like Aileron, UnB also comes with a wide variety of weights to satisfy many of your design needs. UnB is great for both headers and body copy. If Aileron was not quite your thing, UnB might be a better fit.
Kayak Sans
The last on this list is Kayak Sans. This typeface is very fun and invigorating, again based on the grotesque family but more of a modern flavor. I found Kayak worked very well for main headers and when incorporated with logos. One drawback of this type is the limited weights of regular, italic and bold. If you need something for a specific use case than Kayak Sans would be a great option. One more thing to note would be that it is free for personal use only.
I hope that these three typefaces serve your design needs well and enjoy using them in your collection. I would love to hear your feedback as well as other possible free typefaces that you have come across and enjoy!
-Cody