Understanding font-faces isn’t just about knowing which fonts are hot; it’s about knowing which typeface best represents and illustrates the message you want to convey to your web visitors. To help you choose the right font, here are a few guidelines:

  • Use no more than 3 fonts on a web design. This will prevent visual clutter.
  • Use free, decorative fonts sparingly.
  • Use serifs for more classical, luxurious feel. Serif fonts are often a great choice for sites with an older target audience.
  • Use sans-serifs if you’re going for a clean, no-nonsense design that clearly conveys information.
  • Use scripts sparingly and only as accent fonts; never as a primary, text-heavy font.
  • If you’re looking for some high quality fonts, bow to the gods at Hoefler & Frere-Jones who created some of the most beautiful fonts known to man: Gotham, Archer, and Verlag. Also, see the secondary gods at House Industries who are the prodigies behind Neutraface and Eames.