The term Web 2.0 refers to the second generation of web development incorporating websites designed to encourage sharing and collaboration between users, like social networking sites (e.g. Facebook), video sharing sites (e.g. Youtube), wikis (e.g. Wikipedia) and blogs (e.g. this one).
Of course, Web 2.0 sites are not only accessed through desktop computers with large displays. They are increasingly being viewed on portable web-ready devices, from mobile phones to netbooks and car dashboards, not to mention on TVs and through a plethora of video game consoles. The best Web 2.0 fonts, therefore, must look great at a range of scales regardless of what device is being used.
Web 2.0 sites aim to encourage participation and Web 2.0 fonts must do the same. In addition to being highly legible, the best are inclusive and accessible to all. They are cool, original and striking, but not to the extent that they are only appreciated by certain groups with specific aesthetic sensibilities.
Here are 15 great ones to download and start using in your designs!
1. Corpulent
Corpulent is a simple font that looks at its best in uppercase.
2. Airstrip Four
Airstrip Four combines straight and curved edges to great effect.
3. Automatica
This is a stylish, somewhat squat, sans serif font.
4. Rezland
Rezland is a really cool, curvy font. Unfortunately, it’s only available in lower case.
5. Ubuntu Title
Ubuntu Title takes up little horizontal space, so it perfect for inserting into tight spots.
6. Tuffy
Tuffy looks friendly and playful, but not at the expense of clarity.
7. Photonica
Photonica is a futuristic-looking seriffed font that looks even better when italicised.
8. Moderna
Moderna’s rounded letters are really well balanced and very attractive.
9. Arista
Arista is also available in ‘light’ and ‘extra filled’. The ‘light’ version looks fantastic when viewed on a small screen (such as on a mobile phone). The ‘extra filled’, on the other hand, is practically illegible.
10. Bohemica
Bohemica is an interesting looking font that retains legibility, despite its disjointed structure.
11. Lacuna
Lacuna is a timeless, classic font. It’s understated, but powerful nonetheless.
12. DustHome
DustHome is a neat font with perfectly balanced metrics.
13. Tin Birdhouse
Tin Birdhouse is a classy, tasteful font with a professional look.
14. Tondo
Tondo looks great in various colours, thanks to its subtle outline.
15. Delicious
Delicious is a complete font family with an easy-going aesthetic that lends itself perfectly to Web 2.0 sites.
About The Author
While Tom Walker is primarily interested in building out his collection of gadgets, he is also an amateur designer with experience in Photoshop. He blogs for a store specialising in the supply of compatible and genuine PhotoSmart ink to homes and businesses in the UK. For his latest posts, follow him on Twitter.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Excelente coleccion, todas muy buenas
August 20th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Wish there was a ‘download all’ link.
thanks for all the sweet fonts, though.
August 20th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Nice, but the ones for personal use only don’t do me any good. Design is my job.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Boring.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:13 pm
super cooool! thanx for sharing..!
August 21st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Thankyou very much. A great selection.
August 24th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
the only disappointing blog post to date. half these fonts in my opinion are sub par: “forced” condensed, “forced” extended, stroked paths that create “sleepy-eyed” characters and awkward apertures, inconsistent tailoring, distorted arcs… ouch.
August 26th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Cool font collections. Thank you!
August 27th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
nice list of fonts, thanks for sharing
August 28th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Really for free. Cool fonts!!thanx
September 7th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Thank you man! That’s really what I was searching!
September 25th, 2009 at 10:38 am
cool selection. thanx, great article!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
THANK A LOT FOR SHERE
October 28th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” - Abraham Lincoln
Demi Moore
October 28th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Nice roundup there - I personally prefer the ‘ Rounded Font types ‘ such as Arista , Moderna & Ubuntu . Another great free font in this family is Arial Rounded Mt Bold , as I recently implemented it as a custom font in my own blog and it just makes everything look so lovely now :))
Love ur site , always frequent it- always great content .
Best wishes :
M. ?
November 7th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
nice collection of fonts, but you better specify not all of them are truly free, arista for example is only free for personal use…
November 9th, 2009 at 8:30 am
u r really doing good job welldone , but i want samo curly or stylish fonts
December 15th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
I used delicious and it really looks cool. The other fonts are to retro fro my taste.
January 5th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
great article, please can someone confirm that I can use Rezland font free of charge even for commercial use? I am pretty sure but want to make sure. Cheers.
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:11 am
Wow! Fantastic! Great thing!
February 6th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
well nice bro