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The Showcase Of BIG Typography – Second Edition

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In Web typography doesn’t have to support the overall design. It can dominate. It can be loud. It can be bold. And it can be everywhere on a web-site. In many situations it’s reasonable to give the typography the prominent position it deserves, leaving visual cues in the background or removing them at all. Doing that, you have to risk large font sizes surrounded by a generous amount of white space. What comes out of it? Elegant web sites with a unique form, style and sense of precision.

Few months ago we have already presented some sites with quite BIG typography. In this article we present further 55 examples of big, “loud” and yet elegant typography in web design; some listed designs are Flash-based, and in some cases designs are based not only upon typography, but also upon some visual elements.

Please take a look at the following posts as well:

The Showcase Of BIG Typography

Designfabrika
Görsel Işler’s porotfolio with a vibrant typography from Turkey. The design looks attractive and appealing.

Designfabrika in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Defining the Designer of 2015
AIGA uses only typography in its design and uses it effectively. An intiative to define the professional characteristics of the designers of 2015 so that together we can prepare designers for the skills and roles that will be expected for them.

Aiga in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Azzabee.com.au
Azzabee uses big typography in a rotating Flash-based promo. The navigation menu is perfectly integrated in the promo using PNG transparency. Very elegant and effective design solution.

Bee in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Natl.tv
National Television is a project which uses bold, loud and sexy typography within a Flash-based design. Very playful, impressive and interesting to explore. Some content of the site may be hard to read, though.

Natl in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Fl-2
Apparently, Fl-2, a design agency from Denver, Colorado, has a clear focus on typography. Both blog (first image) and the web-site (second image) offer literally HUGE typography. In the second example typography is integrated in the portfolio showcasing selected work produced by the agency.

Blog in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Fl2 in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Neubau Berlin
Letters, letters, letters. NeuBau is a German type-foundry which is why typography is used everywhere on the site. The typeface used is NB-Grotesk. The design isn’t intuitive at all, but that’s all about typography, right?

Neubaum in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Neubau in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

JLern Design
JLern Design presents the typography from a quite unusual perspective. Nice, compact and typography-heavy design solution. Flash in use.

Jleren in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Are you a virgin?
AIGA’s another concept based only on typography. The current section of the site is presented with a bold and colorful typography.

Aiga2 in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Hungry Man
Hungry man seems to be hungry for job as well. A really distinctive design with a little bit retro-look.

Hungrym in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

256tm.com
256TM is a font foundry by Thomas Huot-Marchand. Below the splash-page is presented. The navigation menu is, of course, based upon pure typography, too.

256 in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Elmwood
Elmwood isn’t really humble and uses typography to emphasize exactly this. Effective use of typography for promotional purposes. After all, it’s all about impressing people, right?

Elmwood in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Erratic Wisdom
Not only is the typography quite bold, it is yellow too! Designed by Tom Fadial.

Erratic in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Moony.cz
Lukas Strnadel from Czech Republic places a brief description of the site in the middle of the page. Vibrant colors in use.

Moon in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Switch Mediaworks
Switch Mediaworks is a pretty lively web-site with a pretty lively typography.

Switch in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Shut.elmota.com

Dead in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Mike Precious

Mike in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Newsmap
Newsmap displays current stories and their popularity in a news map. More important messages are displayed with bold typography.

Marum in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Fixie

Fixie in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Sean Klassen
Sean Klassen loves Helvetica and wears pants. Both his splash-page and his blog are heavy on typography.

Wear in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Sean in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Postmachina.com
Postmachina uses typography to deliver the message…

Post in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Chris Garrett Media
…so does Chris Garrett. Color transition in use…

Chris in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Francesco Mugnai
…and so does Francesco Mugnai.

France in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Freshe.st
Bill Morrison has a small web-site, but uses large and bold typography.

Freshest in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Urban Phes

Urban in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Ourtype.be
Ourtype is a Belgian type foundry which showcases its typefaces at large scale. When you scroll the page, type seems to be a little bit shaky.

Ourtype in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Kokokaka
Kokokaka sounds pretty strange, but this is how a Swedish design agency is called. Their web-site uses capital caps and very colorful links.

Koko in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Organic Grid
Michael McDonald with dynamic Flash-based typographic design.

Organicgrid in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Colorcubic.com
Sometimes one can experiment with geometric shapes as well. Colorcubic uses illustrations which look like typography, but are indeed not letters.

Color in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Pier Madonia
Pier Madonia showcases his work using a large typography-based navigation menu. That’s an unusual approach which isn’t intuitive but still simple to understand and to use. The sub-menu is pretty large, too. And, of course, uses only typography.

Pier in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Alex Cohaniuc
Alex Cohaniuc uses typography for his categories…

Alex in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Ogilvy Durham
…Ogilvy Durham for his logo…

Ogil in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

I Love Typography
…John Boardley for the title of his site.

Ilt in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Brunet Garcia

Bg in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Studio Number One

Studio in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Virtual Memories Inc.
Apparently, the creators of this site really love typography. Because they have almost nothing else.

Virtualmem in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

300million.com
On 300million letters fly, jump and float. Created with Flash.

300million in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Twistori.com
Twistori is an ongoing social experiment which analyzes messages sent to Twitter and presents them in a scrolling window. With large and vibrant typography.

Twistori in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Daniel Hagglund

Onemanband in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Vision 7
On Vision 7 the typography is literally squeezed insind a tiny and short layout. The letters are nevertheless huge.

Vision7 in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Wind Jammer
Not really beautiful, but big and large. This company from London seems to have its own style when it comes to choice of letters.

Windjammer in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Mattia Viviani

Viviani in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Paco Raphael

Paco in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

ixwa.com
Sometimes typography can be large yet remain subtle and support the content of the site…

Clarity in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Visie.com.br

Visie in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Futonmedia

Futon in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Babasonicos.com
Babasonicos uses bold and pretty colorful typography in the navigation. This may not be the perfect solution from the usability-perspective, but the site perfectly achieves its primary goal, namely to appear lively and colorful — just the way the band is in its pretty strange videos.

Baba in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Topos Graphics
Topos Graphics: a start page with “mirrored” typography.

Printsregio in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Popart Blog
Typography for headlines gone bold. The headline literally stands out.

Popartblog in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Nu Visual Language

Nuvisual in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Urbanchip

Urbanchip in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Mike Poss

Mikeposs in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Marie Julien

Marie in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

Berlin.unlike.net
Bold typography supports the design. It doesn’t stand out but it is visible.

Berlinunlike in The Showcase Of BIG Typography - Second Edition

The Co-Founder of Smashing Magazine. Former writer, web designer, freelancer and webworker. Author of several books. Runs the business.

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  1. 1
    Michael
    May 20th, 2008 2:53 am

    I like! :)

  2. 2
    Yafundy
    May 20th, 2008 2:54 am

    Yeah !! Clap Clap

  3. 3
    vector
    May 20th, 2008 3:09 am

    cheers!

  4. 4
    Adam ALyan
    May 20th, 2008 3:14 am

    Nice one!

  5. 5
    ferdinand
    May 20th, 2008 3:32 am

    Great post! I’ve compiled a list of ultra bold, free fonts which fits in perfectly with this article. If you’re interested then head over to http://www.fudgegraphics.com.

  6. 6
    FuNKeR
    May 20th, 2008 3:43 am

    Wow! These letters are huge :eek: Really cool. I think of doing something like the first example.

  7. 7
    SV
    May 20th, 2008 4:04 am

    Wauw, great!

  8. 8
    Sean Farrell
    May 20th, 2008 4:32 am

    great list, anyone know the font used for abbazee?

  9. 9
    Chris
    May 20th, 2008 5:44 am

    this is just awesome

  10. 10
    pickupjojo
    May 20th, 2008 6:32 am

    Great selection as usual. Geek and hype

  11. 11
    Jorge
    May 20th, 2008 6:38 am

    This site also uses big fonts in an unusual way:

    innen.hu

  12. 12
    Ed
    May 20th, 2008 7:06 am

    why don’t any of my clients let me do things like this? I’ve always thought that large type is one of the most beautiful ways of communicating, especially if the message can be simplified to just a few small words.

  13. 13
    Anwar Vaquez
    May 20th, 2008 7:13 am

    Just beautiful!

  14. 14
    johno
    May 20th, 2008 7:53 am

    Great post. A lot of sites I’ve never seen before.

    @Sean Farrell:
    Looks like ITC Kabel

  15. 15
    Fachia
    May 20th, 2008 8:52 am

    I’ve used some simple fonts to design custom web 2.0 logo such Hongkiat has. But yes I’m lack of fonts stock. So this post is helping me much much easier. Also consider looking my latest job with simple font at URLCantik.com site.

  16. 16
    Felipe Spina
    May 20th, 2008 10:44 am

    The best!

  17. 17
    Sean Farrell
    May 20th, 2008 11:49 am

    @johno – thanks a mil

  18. 18
    martin
    May 20th, 2008 12:44 pm

    Wow! Great stuff here … I’m a big fan of even bigger typography and it is very nice to see our work in the list (mike poss).

    Thanks a lot guys!

    Martin

  19. 19
    Mehmet
    May 20th, 2008 2:16 pm

    The first website, Designfabrika, is not Gorsel isler’s portfolio. “Görsel Isler” translates to “visual works”. It’s Oguzhan Aydin’s portfolio, as you can see here:

    http://oguzhanaydin.deviantart.com/

  20. 20
    BrianMichael
    May 20th, 2008 7:34 pm

    Natl.tv uses which font? There are many similar fonts but that seems to be used in many ads…. I should know this, anyone?

  21. 21
    daustralala
    May 20th, 2008 8:56 pm

    Great collection, indeed!

  22. 22
    Jerome
    May 20th, 2008 9:40 pm

    hihi,

    i wish that there’s will be other one for wordpress…

    thanks man

  23. 23
    Sadiq Hussain
    May 21st, 2008 1:13 am

    This one is better than the first one. Good Post!!!

  24. 24
    gr8pixel
    May 21st, 2008 4:08 am

    wow… really nice!

  25. 25
    Sandie Sørensen
    May 21st, 2008 4:47 am

    Very inspiring!
    I was also inspired by your first article on this topic- and because of that article I made my own webpage:
    http://www.lineofdesign.dk.

    But as I can see here, I could have been even bolder than I was, when I designed it.

    Thans for ever so inspiring articles.

    I look forward to having som more time to go deeper into the webpages, you present here.
    I like to browse on the surface first, and then dig deeper on occation…

    :)

  26. 26
    Sander
    May 21st, 2008 5:19 am

    Big Type and minimalism Rocks!

  27. 27
    Jon
    May 21st, 2008 5:58 am

    Helvetica… still the font of choice for lazy design fascists.

  28. 28
    Erik
    May 21st, 2008 11:12 am

    As usual smashing comes up with hothothothot shit. Love these articles!

  29. 29
    Rakesh
    May 21st, 2008 9:29 pm

    Its amazing !!!.. anks for sharing :-D

  30. 30
    BongoBox
    May 22nd, 2008 8:10 am

    and yet, STILL most of the fonts are Helvetica, or Helvetica-like…

    Where’s BIG Chicago?!
    :O

  31. 31
    siddharth
    May 22nd, 2008 8:35 am

    Really a good post. Looking for such info on typography.

  32. 32
    Ephebian
    May 22nd, 2008 11:37 am

    A photographer friend of mine has a photo portfolio site with big type for the navigation.

  33. 33
    Joe
    May 22nd, 2008 1:32 pm

    does anyone know which front Designfabrika uses?

  34. 34
    ilovecolors
    May 22nd, 2008 1:38 pm

    What’s the name of the font Designfabrika uses? it’s gorgeous

  35. 35
    Robert Marbun
    May 22nd, 2008 10:18 pm

    as usual, you rock!

  36. 36
    Ivana Bozinovska
    May 23rd, 2008 6:16 am

    great selection, i like it just as always. :)
    can you also review my website: Vertigo Visual (www.vertigo.com.mk)?

  37. 37
    Joe
    May 23rd, 2008 9:59 am

    looks like Designfabrika is using DAX Extra Bold

  38. 38
    oops
    May 23rd, 2008 12:59 pm

    Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery :-)

  39. 39
    ilovecolors
    May 23rd, 2008 3:36 pm

    Joe: yes, indeed, it’s quite beautiful isn’t it? many fonts that came to my mind were close (FF Meta, FB Amplitude, OT FrescoInformal, etc) but none of them fully matched. Thanks Joe for sharing the knowledge.

  40. 40
    Dot Design
    May 25th, 2008 8:51 am

    great list, yet again!
    Gareth

  41. 41
    CB
    May 26th, 2008 10:45 am

    Hey guys,

    Please can start providing more content and less top {insert interger here} lists!. This site has so much potential, and to keep filling it up it with cheap non-content is doing yourselves a dis-service.

    You have a really talented team who do a great job of finding unique and interesting sites on the web, but, it would so much nicer if the articles had a broader focus than links to trendy sites and featured subjective critique or thought around a chossen subject matter.

    Cheers

    C

  42. 42
    derek
    May 26th, 2008 11:03 am

    @CB: Agreed.

    Looking at Top XX Lists is a waste of time. Maybe you guys could grab a few [2-3] of these sites and do a proper critic of them. Instead of the old “hey i like this site check it out” shtick. It’s boring.
    It’s not inspiring.
    I don’t need your help finding neato things on the web.
    I’d like to hear something constructive as to why they’re on a list.
    Stop making lists.
    Start giving me reasons to come to your website again.

    Cheers,
    Derek.

  43. 43
    webpixelkonsum
    May 26th, 2008 12:15 pm

    I love many ideas from this list. Great work and thank you.

    Ralph

  44. 44
    Jonathan
    May 27th, 2008 1:12 pm

    Derek,

    There is a reason the article is titled, “The Showcase of BIG Typography,” not “The Dissertation of BIG Typography.”

    Secondly, what gives you a right to demand a them to give you a reason for you to come back? I think they will be pretty well off and won’t even notice your absence, so don’t fret. You won’t be missed, trust me.

    Thirdly, the reason on why the sites are on this list is above underneath the name of this article. In addition, descriptions of what the author wants to point out are listed underneath each link.

    One of the most overlooked means of gathering ideas is to look at the work of others, and if this article is merely to kindle and inspire, I think it does a rather good job.

    The internet is filled with resources and articles – if you don’t like this one, find another one.

  45. 45
    Paul R
    May 27th, 2008 3:17 pm

    Can anyone tell me the font used in Hungry Man?

    Cheers guys

  46. 46
    Cesar
    May 29th, 2008 9:19 am

    Where can I get some of this fonts?
    i like NB-Grotesk

  47. 47
    Chris
    May 30th, 2008 2:36 am

    Hmm, very nice but a lot of these are flash driven or use graphics. Not much good for SEO! If your core message is reliant on using images and no text to achieve a typographic message then you are shooting yourself in the !

  48. 48
    Justin
    June 2nd, 2008 5:43 am

    Really cool article. Thanks for putting this together.

    I am the creator of JLern.com and I came across this website that is a complete and utter rip off:
    http://www.livingrose.it/

    If anyone can help bring that website down, it is much appreciated! Unbelievable that people think they can get away with that kinda thing.

  49. 49
    Rich
    June 5th, 2008 2:26 pm

    Interesting article, but get rid of vision 7, ste is a tit :)

  50. 50
    John
    June 13th, 2008 1:53 am

    This is a very good article, but some of these websites seem waay too big on the whole web 2.0 trend…

  51. 51
    jack
    June 24th, 2008 8:56 pm

    The massive type looks patronizing …

  52. 52
    slinky
    August 5th, 2008 4:13 pm

    big fonts are so ugly

  53. 53
    archknight79
    September 21st, 2008 10:08 pm

    great typography styles! :D

  54. 54
    mauro Bertolini
    December 9th, 2008 5:28 pm

    i dont see any images?

  55. 55
    sandipan
    December 17th, 2008 9:40 pm

    elmwood was a revelation for me. Never thought branding can be used in such a potent way.
    Thanks for introducing to such a great site

  56. 56
    Paris Vega
    March 18th, 2009 10:49 am

    awesome.

  1. 00

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