The Typography Series #3: The Bad

10 Examples of Really Poor Typography.

Yes, I know that in my post The Basics I said that rules are meant to be broken.  I didn’t mean that you can just throw them out the window, they are still very important.  Bad things can happen with typography if it’s not done correctly.  I’ve compiled a set of 10 examples of really poor typography for your learning and enjoyment.

If you haven’t checked out the first two installments in this series, see them here: The Typography Series #1: The Basics or The Typography Series #2: The Good.

credit ReallyBadTypography via tumblr

Seriously. I had a hard time with this one because I have to look at it every time I check this post.

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credit typedesk.com

This one needs no explanation. I don’t even know what to say.

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credit Alisa May at aged4243may

Bold, condensed font. Black and red on a white background. All caps, lines close together.

All the opposite of calming.

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credit Kirsten Mosca via tumblr

I have a personal problem with the typeface Papyrus (and its gross misuse), and this is a perfect example. Why?

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credit Megan Seagram via Magnadoodled

Misuse of quotes is another one of my pet peeves. Try this exercise: read this sign aloud, and make finger quotes in the air while you’re saying “we care.” How genuine do you feel?

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credit Charmaine Kelly

This is just too much. Too much colors, fonts, styling, sizes, everything.

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credit TheFontPolice via tumblr

Body text of all caps with a thin compressed typeface is nigh unreadable.

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credit KimCharlesInventive

That word is ‘Coffee’, not ‘Cossee’. I think.

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credit Gary Shouldis via TheSmallBusinessPlaybook

This is crazy and looks like a 4th grade presentation.  I can’t even concentrate on what it says.

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credit Carbon Arc via CompanyFolders.com

Comic Sans is to be avoided at all costs, especially in a professional environment.

See Also:

The Typography Series #1: The Basics

The Typography Series #2: The Good

The Typography Series #4: The Ugly

Matt Lloyd

Graphic Designer & CEO MooreSpark Graphic Design

I am an avid graphic designer with a true love and passion for what I do. Originally from Alaska, I just recently moved to Colorado (love it here) and re-branded my freelance business as MooreSpark Graphic Design. I received my degree in Graphic Design from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and have been working as a designer for the past 4 years. I am also an illustrator and artist. I specialize in branding, identity packages, and print design.