The Font of All The Font of All PersonalityPersonality

The Font of All The Font of All PersonalityPersonality

BBC NewsBBC News

The Importance of Font• Font choice used in emails,

papers, etc. is important• It makes a statement about your

personality• Could be more important than the

piece of writing itself

The New Graphology• Graphology is the art of studying

handwriting• Used to try to analyze people and their

personalities• Personal handwriting has gone out of

commission with advances in technology • Thus, analyzing typefaces has become

the new front to gain insight to a person’s character

The Psychology of Fonts

• Commissioned by Lexmark Printers

• Written by Dr. Aric Sigman• Explains how font influences the

audience’s opinion of you whether it be your boss to your significant other

What is your font saying?

• Courier– Sensible

• Georgia, Shelly– “Rocker Chick”

Some Famous Examples

• Kylie Minogue (sex kitten)– Shelly

• Ian Beale (cheapskate anorak)– Courier

• Richard Branson (professional yet appealing)– Verdana

• Anna Ford (trustworthy and respectable)– Times New Roman

First Impressions• Sigman says font often gives first

impressions and can “affect decisions that will shape your future”

• Font size is also important and should be used appropriately– For a power letter, less is more. A

smaller typeface is more professional

Some Suggestions• Professional letter

– Applying for a job (CV)• TNR for traditional company

•Verdana for contemporary company

• Cold Tone– Quitting a job on bad terms

•Courier new

Font Styles• Rectilinear fonts more popular

with men– Bookman Old Style

• Round and curvy fonts with prominent tails more popular with women– Bradley Hand ITC

Font Styles• Serif fonts

– Show a compromise between old and new

– Demonstrate trustworthiness– Often used with lawyers

•Rockwell

Conclusion• Font is a huge opportunity for

people to express themselves• Should be more fully explored and

exploited by people to put forth their best first impression and display their personalities in print