Designer-Approved Retro Rounded Serif Fonts
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of crafting dozens of brands using serif style fonts, which for those who don’t know is a specific style you’d see in Times New Roman where where are feet and hats, if you will. The font you see on this blog is a sans-serif, so it’‘s free of those caps. For certain brands it’s a no-brainer to use a sans-serif, and for others it’s inconceivable not to use a more traditional serif font. And for clients of mine like Dre and Lucy, they knew a serif was what they wanted.
In fact, both folks sought a specific subspecies of serif font, one where the shapes of the letterforms are more rounded and organic as opposed to severe or square, giving it a retro look and feel. That said, it can be hard to find retro serif fonts that aren’t too… funky? These are my current top 10 finds, two of which were used as the final logotypes for my aformentioned clients.
1. Bright
This font was Dre’s final choice for the logotype and logo base. It has the prettiest ligatures as well, like where the r meets an I — divine..
2. Forrest
One of the finest serif fonts I’ve come across in a while is Forrest. With six styles, the whole family is well-designed and legible .
3. Fedro
Fedro is a retro, soft display serif typeface with 14 fonts. It blends classic character with modern appeal and features.
4. Confirm Serif
Bold and beautiful, Confirm Serif stands as a quintessential serif typeface family, elegantly merging traditional form with contemporary nuances. Its design features a balance of robust and delicate strokes, embodying a professional yet artistic essence.
5. Jessi Neue
Jessie Neue blends the expressive spirit of 1970s serif typefaces with precise grotesque influences. This serif font offers a refined aesthetic through its distinctive ligatures and clean lines, making it suitable for a wide range of creative projects.
6. Sunday Breaks
Sunday Breaks is a captivating serif typeface that blends vintage charm with contemporary flair. Featuring both Regular and Italic styles with stylish alternates and ligatures, this font is expertly crafted for retro-inspired branding, memorable logos, eye-catching packaging, and editorial designs that demand character and warmth.
7. Tangelo
A round and vintage serif font that combines classic elegance with a vintage twist. Its unique design features rounded edges and intricate serifs, giving it a timeless and sophisticated look. Perfect for adding a touch of nostalgia to your designs while still maintaining a contemporary feel.
8. Wayfinder
This one borders outside of the fully round category with some sharp features (which are gorgeous). Equally warm and intense, it is a display font family made for logos, headlines, titles, and other short texts. The forms read clearly at large sizes and keep their presence in compact settings, making it a great choice for branding and editorial typography.
