Helvetica Now is a pure classic Swiss typeface that has been updated for usage in the present day. It has been redrawn and updated for clarity, neutrality, and simplicity.
Proxima Nova blends a geometric design with contemporary proportions. It is a blend of humanistic and somewhat geometric look.
A geometric sans serif with traditional type character proportions is called TT Norms Pro. It is the essential global font for creating logos.
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Many designers would agree that in order to design a contemporary looking brand identity, you must pay close attention to the typography you use.
For both your logo and your brand identity, the fonts you select express who you are as a brand.
Besides colors and shape, fonts are probably the most important element through which you can express your brand personality.
That's why modern brands are very cautious and very particular about the fonts they choose.
Big brands prefer getting a bespoke font, but if you’re a startup, you don’t have to design your font from scratch.
You could simply buy a well-design font that will make you look contemporary and professional.
Here’s my list of top 10 fonts to create a modern and minimalist logo design.
Below I’ve listed preview of each font (MyFonts) with examples of use in logo design.
PS. Also check out my other articles where I feature elegant fonts and professional fonts.
PS2. If you're a business onwer—please don't use free logo makers, hire a designer instead.
Original Helvetica is probably the most ubiquitous font ever, especially when it comes to branding.
Helvetica Now is a pure classic Swiss typeface redesigned for modern use.
In this expansive new edition, every single glyph of Helvetica has been redrawn and redesigned for clarity, simplicity and neutrality.
Here’s an example of Helvetica Now in logo design by Oscar Blasco.
The Helvetica Now family is available in 48 weights from Light Micro to Extra Black Display, with matching italic.
There are number of well-known brands that use Helvetica, from NYC Subway system to corporate giants.
Famous brands that use Helvetica in their logos:
Helvetica Now was designed by Max Miedinger, Charles Nix, Monotype Studio, Jan Hendrik Weber and published by Monotype.
BTW—If you're looking for fonts similar to Helvetica, check out this article.
Released in 2005, Proxima Nova contains whooping 144 styles and is a complete reworking of the famous Proxima Sans.
Proxima Nova combines geometric appearance with modern proportions.
This extremely popular typeface is often described as a hybrid of Futura and Akzidenz Grotesk.
Here’s an example of Proxima Nova in logo design by Steven Ritchie-Smith.
The font-family expanded from just 6 to as many as 48 full-featured OpenType fonts.
Proxima Nova is a mix of humanistic proportions with a somewhat geometric appearance.
Famous brands that use Proxima Nova in their logos:
Proxima Nova was designed and published by Mark Simonson.
This font is also available on Adobe Fonts.
TT Norms Pro is considered to be one of bestselling sans ever released.
TT Norms Pro is a geometric sans serif that features classic type character proportions.
TT Norms works equally well both in large text arrays or in headlines, and is “the one”, the indispensable universal font for logo design.
Here’s an example of TT Norms Pro in logo design by Vanderbrand.
The font family includes 18 reworked fonts, 1392 glyphs in each font, 24 OpenType features and supports more than 216 languages.
TT Norms Pro was designed by Ivan Gladkikh, TypeType Team, Pavel Emelyanov and published by TypeType.
FF DIN was created between 1995 and 2009 and despite its primitive, technical appearance, the font quickly became a phenomenon.
Many consider FF DIN the best condensed technical font ever made.
The font works well for packaging, editorial, posters, billboards, way-finding and signage and of course logo & branding.
Here’s an example of FF DIN in logo design by Ruiz+Company.
The typeface has pervaded corporate and publication typography, and can be seen in posters for cultural institutions.
FF DIN was designed by a dutch designer Albert-Jan Pool and published by FontFont.
Avenir Next Pro is a new take on a classic face, updated so that its technical standards surpass the status quo.
Avenir® Next is a linear sans in the tradition of Erbar and Futura.
This family contains styles ranging from ultra light to heavy, as well as it offers condensed faces that rival any other sans on the market in on and off—screen readability.
Here’s an example of Avenir Next font in logo design by Pavels Lavrinovics.
The heavy weights make for excellent display faces in their own right and have the ability to pair well with so many contemporary serif body types.
The word Avenir means 'future' in French, but unlike Futura, Avenir is not purely geometric.
The font has vertical strokes that are thicker than the horizontals, an ""o"" that is not a perfect circle, and shortened ascenders.
These nuances aid in legibility and give Avenir a harmonious and sensible appearance for both texts and headlines
Avenir Next was designed by Adrian Frutiger, Akira Kobayashi and published by Linotype.
Akira brought his own finesse and ideas to the Frutiger’s original intent, to make not just a modern typeface, but one ahead of its time.
Nexa is one of the most recognizable typefaces of our time.
Notorious geometric sans serif combined with rich variety.
Here’s an example of Nexa font in logo design by Studio Dumbar.
This font was developed for excellent legibility and readability for motion graphics, web, print, and well-finished geometric logos.
The full Nexa font family includes 9 weights and 36 fonts.
Overall, the family’s design is clean, straightforward and works brilliantly for logo and headlines alike.
Nexa was designed by Svetoslav Simov, Plamen Motev, Mirela Belova, Stan Partalev, Nikolay Petroussenko, Ventsislav Dzhokov and published by Fontfabric.
Cera Pro contains 12 styles and family package option
The pan-European font driven by pure geometry.
The font is made from elementary shapes and brings simplicity, elegance and a certain contemporary look.
Here’s an example of Cera Pro in logo design by Studio Risch.
Cera Pro comes in six weights, thin to black, giving you a full range of expression for interfaces and corporate design; in print, on screen and in multiple languages.
Carefully sloped 10º italics give striking effect when used for display typography.
It also has all the useful dingbats and arrows you might need.
Cera Pro was designed by Jakob Runge and published by TypeMates.
Mont ranges in 10 weights from Hairline to Black with matching italics.
Mont is a balanced, but characteristic font with unique details.
One of these details is the pointed “t” and the prominent x-height, which makes it perfect for strong headlines and outstanding logos.
Here’s an example of Mont font in logo design by FourPlus Studio.
The font supports more than 130 languages all together.
Mont fon-family includes tabular figures, advanced typographic features such as ligatures, fractions, case-sensitive forms, superscripts, subscripts etc.
The typefaceʼs versatility make it easy to confront any graphic design challenge — web, print or motion graphics.
Mont was designed by Svetoslav Simov, Mirela Belova and published by Fontfabric.
Intro is a classy sans with some special ingredients like serifs here and there.
Contemporary look with a bit of refined playfulness.
Many modern graphic design firms use this font in their work due to unique characteristics.
Here’s an example of Intro™ font in logo design by BNA.
This big family contains 72-font styles in 8 weights with matching italics and condensed version.
The flow of this font lends itself well to designing clean and minimalist wordmarks.
Intro font was designed by Svetoslav Simov, Stan Partalev and published by Fontfabric.
Gilroy is a modern font that is very popular at the moment in logo and wed design.
Gilroy is a modern sans serif with a certain geometric touch.
The font is a younger brother of the original Qanelas font family based on geometric shapes, near-perfect circles and squares.
Here’s an example of Gilroy font in logo design by myself.
The font was designed with powerful opentype features in mind, which makes it perfectly suited for modern graphic design.
It can easily work for your logo, web, as well as editorial design.
The light & extra bold weights are free of charge, so you can use them to your heart’s content.
Gilroy was designed by Radomir Tinkov.
Some people will really like these fonts, some people don’t.
Personally, I like these modern fonts — they look fresh and futuristic.
But when you expect minimalism, it’s a very basic, very simple look.
However, you should strive to make it unique and characteristic by choosing the right typeface.
Also check out some of the fonts of famous brands.
Do you notice some similarities?
Most of them is simple, but well-design, modern typography.
Did I miss any of your favorite fonts?—Let me know in the comments below.
Also check out my tutorials on how to design a logo and then present that logo to your client and finally deliver a logo package.
Looking to hire a logo designer?—Just shoot me an email
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I'm a branding expert and graphic designer based in NY. I specialize in the development of brands: brand strategy, identity & web design. Need help with your project?—Get in touch
