Free Font Friday: Girassol

by Taylor Slattery | July 31, 2020

Girassol is a display typeface created by Liam Spradlin. It was inspired by the hand-lettered signage found on storefronts in Carcavelos, Portugal. It’s thin, angular serifs and tall, condensed letterforms give it an air of sophistication. This small caps typeface features a strong contrast between razor-thin and thick stroke weights, giving it great readability despite its condensed nature and tall x-height.

Given the inspiration, it’s no wonder Girassol has a bit more flair than your standard display serif. Whether you’re working on branding for a store, hero images, or packaging design, Girassol is a great way to add a classic, heritage feel. Maybe pay homage to the spiritual predecessors and display it large and proudly in a storefront window, or maybe use it on some beverage packaging as a subtle nod. Its regal qualities can be played up or disguised, depending on the context, but its true character shines brightest when paired with a clean sans serif. This partnership works great for headlines and body copy.

Girassol is available in a single style. You can find it for free here.

Taylor is the Managing Editor of Notes on Design. Taylor is a graphic designer, illustrator, and Design Lead at Weirdsleep.

If you are interested in learning to use typography, Sessions College offers Basic Typography and Advanced Typography courses as well as a course in Web Typography. Contact Admissions for more information.

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