10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (2024)

By Sammy Maine

published

We take a look at the inspiring fonts that made these typographic posters shine.

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (1)

Typography can make or break a poster. No matter how perfect the imagery, if the type isn't conveyed in the right way, the design has failed – which is why choice of typography in poster design is so important.

Whether you're designing gig or movie poster, a product advert or digital campaign, these examples of typography posters are sure to inspire you.

01. Solo: A Star Wars Story

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (2)

Before they caused controversy, these posters for the forthcoming standalone Han Solo movie caught the world's attention with their inventive yet nostalgic typography design. Placing the character illustrations within the typography itself is a great way to grab the eye, while also making the type more than just a way to convey the title. Keeping the Solo stamp at the top of each poster is a clever way to keep the branding present, too.

02. NRMAL

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (3)

NRMAL is an annual music festival taking place in Mexico City. Keeping the brand typography running throughout the poster designs strengthens the identity, and these examples show how you can do that while also being playful and creative.

The zine-like, cut-and-paste placement of the type, along with the festival name in the right-hand corner, makes these typography posters a great example of clean, consistent design, while still staying true to the youthful and edgy style of the festival.

03. OKJA

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (4)

More and more movies are going direct to Netflix these days, so it’s important to get the advertising on point to attract new viewers. Last year’s Okja tells the tale of a young woman and her quest to prevent her giant pig from heading to the slaughter house. These clever typography posters describe the film’s three main characters using cuts of meat – just like a butcher would. The chalk-like effect on the type also harks back to butcher boards.

04. Alzheimers

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (5)

A poster campaign for a charity needs to be eye-catching, but it also needs to send a strong message of the charity’s aims. These powerful typography-led posters for the Dutch Alzheimer Foundation were created by Studio Dumbar and provide a striking, heartbreaking visual of what Alzheimer's disease can do to the brain. The disease often causes small brain lesions and this is transported to the typography design, with spots causing the type to become less clear. It’s a powerful choice.

05. Mogwai

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (6)

Mogwai is a relatively well-known band that made it onto our best album artwork list. They're known for their artistic output, so it’s not surprising to find them here. Designed by Afonso de Lima, the water-inspired typography is an innovative, playful way to promote the gig, making for a unique yet attractive typography poster.

06. Get Out

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (7)

Get Out was undoubtedly one of the biggest films of 2017, going on to win a number of awards, and the praise of fans and critics alike. As a movie focusing on race relations, the typography design on this particular poster offers a clever indicator of its themes and tongue-in-cheek yet serious approach to the subject.

07. Axfood

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (8)

This Snask project for Axfood caught our eye because the typography is created entirely out of food. The colour-coded style on each letter makes the whole word stand out, while the type design at the top keeps a clean-cut feel. Another stellar project from some of the most playful designers around.

08. Sydlexia

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (9)

Much like the Alzheimer Foundation posters created by Studio Dumbar, these typographic posters aim to highlight the difficulties that come with living with dyslexia. Created by BBDO Dubai, type and origami is used to present the problems people with dyslexia face, with words broken and rearranged.

By unfolding the original word, type then appears scrambled, making for a powerful message that's translated through innovative type design and layout. The logo placed at the bottom, with its optimistic outlook, ensures the posters also provide a positive solution.

09. Isle of Dogs

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (10)

When it comes to Wes Anderson, you can always rely on a quirky, innovative product. For his latest movie, Isle of Dogs, the posters compliment the film’s setting in a futuristic Japan. It could be difficult to make the typography stand out with all the main characters staring directly at the viewer, but thanks to a bold colour choice and using not one but two languages, the title of the film is as prominent as can be. Anderson is a keen user of yellow and red in all his movies, so it’s not surprising to find the Japanese and English versions of the title presented in these shades.

10. American Express

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (11)

Designed by Pentagram’s Abbott Miller, the new visual identity for American Express brings in some bold new type. It marks the first update to the company’s design in 37 years – and the poster brings the font to the forefront. Keeping to the brand's iconic blue and white colour schemes, the poster design pushes the brand name to new heights.

Related articles:

  • 50 top typography tutorials
  • 5 typography trends for 2018
  • Are movie posters in a design crisis?

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (12)

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (13)

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Get the Creative Bloq Newsletter

Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.

10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (14)

Sammy Maine

Sammy Maine was a founding member of the Creative Bloq team way back in the early 2010s, working as a Commissioning Editor. Her interests cover graphic design in music and film, illustration and animation. Since departing, Sammy has written for The Guardian, VICE, The Independent & Metro, and currently co-edits the quarterly music journal Gold Flake Paint.

Related articles

  • "It’s all about matching the energy of a brand": A day in the life of interior designer Kirsty Vance
  • New Deadpool poster design has Taylor Swift fans in a spin
  • Why the London Overground rebrand is more than just a pretty pattern
  • Marketing that people love: exclusive extract from Turner Duckworth's new book
10 extraordinary examples of typography poster designs (2024)

FAQs

How is typography used in posters? ›

A typography poster is a design that uses text as the primary or only element. The text may be arranged in a variety of ways (for example, in a grid or spiral), and may include different fonts, sizes, and colors. Typography posters are often used to communicate simple messages, such as quotes or slogans.

What is the best simple typography? ›

  • Georgia. Here's the main thing you need to know about Georgia: it's a serif font. ...
  • Helvetica. Along with Georgia, Helvetica is considered to be one of the most easy to read fonts according to The Next Web. ...
  • PT Sans & PT Serif. Can't decide whether serif or sans-serif is for you? ...
  • Open Sans. ...
  • Quicksand. ...
  • Verdana. ...
  • Rooney. ...
  • Karla.

How many different types of fonts should you use on a poster? ›

Too many fonts distract the viewer and make it undesirable to look at, let alone read. Keep the fonts simple and limit them to no more than two font types. Arial and Verdana are pleasing to the reader's eye.

What is the role of typography in posters and flyers? ›

Attract the Reader's Attention

You can make changes to the fonts and alignment and create something unique. This is particularly useful for posters or flyers to really catch the attention of the viewer. Typography can be employed to make a word or phrase stand out in the design.

What is typography in movie posters? ›

Typography: Just like color, typography is an incredibly useful tool for the creation of movie posters. It is used to convey important information about the movie such as the movie title, tagline, and release date.

What font is easy to write on poster? ›

Let's begin by looking at four serif fonts for posters and flyers.
  • Times New Roman. ...
  • Garamond. ...
  • Georgia. ...
  • Trajan.
May 17, 2023

What is a good example of typography? ›

Some great examples of typography include Gotham, Baskerville, Futura, Helvetica, Gill Sans, and Optima. These fonts all feature classic, professional designs that work well for a variety of projects. Each font has its own unique characteristics and can be used to convey different meanings and messages.

What is typography examples? ›

Other examples of typography include: Comic Sans - This sans-serif typeface was created in 1994 by Microsoft. It was specifically meant to be easy to read, which is why it is used extensively by educators, especially for children. Helvetica - This typography was deliberately designed to impress.

What are some examples of typography? ›

For example Garamond, Times, and Arial are typefaces. Whereas font is a specific style of typeface with a set width, size, and weight. For example, Arial is a typeface; 16pt Arial Bold is a font. So typeface is the creative part and font is the structure.

What should a poster include? ›

At its core, a poster is made up of four key features: a title, graphic(s), text, and white space.

Can you use multiple fonts in a poster? ›

Avoid using more than two or three fonts in one poster. If multiple fonts are used, the effect is a mishmash that confuses the reader. Do not use elaborate, cutesy fonts unless there is a reason. Simple fonts are usually your best choice.

What does a scientific poster look like? ›

The poster is usually a mixture of a brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants can come and view the presentation and interact with the author.

How is typography used in graphic design? ›

For designers, typography is a way to use text as a visual to convey a brand message. This design element is important for graphic designers not only to build personality, convey a message but also to grab the viewer's attention, build a hierarchy, brand recognition, harmony and establish value and tone of a brand.

What is the purpose of display typography? ›

A display typeface is a typeface that is intended for use in display type (display copy) at large sizes for titles, headings, pull quotes, and other eye-catching elements, rather than for extended passages of body text.

Why is typography used in advertising? ›

The right typography can create a powerful connection with the audience, convey emotions and messages, and enhance brand recognition. Typography choices such as font, size, color, and spacing can set the tone and mood of the marketing message, communicate the brand's personality, and differentiate it from competitors.

What is typography and how is it used? ›

Typography is the art of arranging letters and text in a way that makes the copy legible, clear, and visually appealing to the reader. Typography involves font style, appearance, and structure, which aims to elicit certain emotions and convey specific messages. In short, typography is what brings the text to life.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 5901

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.