There are trends – and then there are mega, or enduring, trends. The concept of megatrends was coined by the American trendspotter John Naisbitt, who has published several books on the subject. The concept covers the very broad forces of change in society. They are long-term, and omnipresent. They occur in life – and typography.

We’ve looked at the Type Trends articles over the last couple of years and identified some enduring type trends, pointed out to us by some of the experts we’ve interviewed.

Katherine Hughes, design director at Stoltze Design, told us in 2020, “I can’t help noticing the explosion of experimental typefaces that are often rooted in a vector-based aesthetic.” Their sharp, witchy terminals; strange stresses; surreal Bezier curves; and nods to historic faces taken to an absurd extreme. I often find myself saying ‘Woah. That is so weird. I LOVE IT!”

Look to typefaces like Mixta from Latinotype, the Boring Sans series of designs from Zetafonts and Mirador from Rene Bieder as examples of the kind of typefaces Katherine is talking about. Although their roots are in classic serif and sans serif designs, shapes, counters, weight changes and serifs have been drawn with a fresh digital demeanor. These are typefaces that make a statement.

Last year’s “Type Trends” guidance was about creating typographic surprises, bespoke fonts, using evocative typefaces to tell a story, and the merging of art and technology. As far as typefaces go, lighthearted scripts, industrial-strength sans serif designs, and heavyweight display typefaces were high on the popularity charts.

So, what kind of typefaces are going to be hot in 2022? We looked into the fonts that have been trending over the last several weeks, checked out the winners in several typographic design competitions, and talked with the type experts at MyFonts, to help us answer this question.

Here’s what we came up with. The typeface trends in 2022 will be:

• A resurgence of classic sans serif designs
• New interest in baroque fonts
• Display typefaces, with a cartoon vibe
• New serif typefaces that are friendly and outspoken
• Three flavors of scripts finding new popularity
• Variable fonts continuing to trend

Type Trends Fall 2021

Some trends like, multi-part color and psychedelic retro fonts, or men’s one-piece romper jumpsuits, have the lifespan of a fruit fly. Follow them today and you’ll be yesterday’s news before you can blink.

Other trends, however, stick around. And while they may not become tomorrow’s Helvetica or little black dress, they are worth giving a second – or third – consideration. Bespoke typefaces, evocative design and variable fonts are three such trends.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a font browser. When you’ve got a project that calls for something fresh and new, you browse the pages of MyFonts looking for that special typeface. You’ll sift through the hundreds of banners until you find exactly what you need. You probably, however, don’t take notice of the foundries that create the fonts – or where they’re located.

If you do, you might have discovered that Indonesia has become the source of some exceptional typeface designs. Recently, Indonesian type designers have released a tsunami of vibrant and original Latin typefaces. Ahmad Jamaludin, Alcode, Balibilly Design, BaronWNM, DYSA Studio, Edignwn Type, XdCreative, TOKOTYPE are just a few of the Indonesian type foundries with exciting new designs represented on MyFonts. A site search will reveal dozens more.

As a graphic communicator, your work needs to stand out in a heavily manufactured visual culture. You need to intrigue people, create art as well as utility and build consistent brand without it becoming static. Type can do this.

There is little risk in using classic typefaces in your projects. You can’t go wrong with Frutiger Next, Garamond or Brandon Grotesque. These classic typefaces are like a basic black dress or a navy-blue blazer.

But what if your project calls for something typographically up-to-the-minute? What if you want something that’s part of a raising typographic trend – a typeface that will ensure that your graphic or interactive designs are fresh, stylish and hip? Read on.

Even with what seems like hundreds of new typefaces being released on a daily basis, the hippest new font designs fall into five categories for 2020:

• Geometric Sans
• Swashes & Alternative Characters
• Soft Fonts & Friendly Faces
• Inlined, Engraved and Delightful
• Square Sans

In 2020, Clif Stoltze and Katherine Hughes, of Stoltze Design, told us about the power of new experimental typefaces, symmetrical layouts with selective deviations, and the value of classic designs. 

Gloria Kondrup, design consultant and full-time professor at ArtCenter College of Design encouraged us to “not to play it safe typographically.” Angie Wang and Mark Fox, partners in the award-winning Design is Play design studio, provided sound advice about using blunt force typography, highly readable text and variable fonts, to capture and keep audiences.

What’s up with the Font Trends for 2021?

We’re seeing some clear typeface trends. There will be more use of lighthearted scripts. In addition to a new breed of sans serif designs getting popular use, industrial strength sans are making commanding statements. Fonts with a flourish are still trending and heavyweight display typefaces are attracting attention.