A good typeface goes a long way. Typography nerds will be the first to point out that all typefaces should serve a deliberate purpose, most often integrating text to fit the overall design, to communicate a message as clearly as possible, or to convey a memorable aesthetic. An ill-chosen or careless font can certainly make or break a headline. But sometimes the impact that a font has can also go much further than simple aesthetics and readability.

Font Aid IV: Aster Affects, a design project benefiting relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, is perhaps one way for a font to make a difference. Other examples have shown that readability in a typeface isn’t always a good thing. Fonts can have a dramatic cognitive influence, and research has shown that unfamiliar fonts can actually make it easier to retain certain information. Similarly, harder-to-read fonts could possibly make you less of a biased jerk. So, we’ve rounded up some examples of other typefaces and typological curiosities that have been designed for unconventional purposes. … Read More