You’ve chosen two fonts. How do they work together?

Give each text element a job

Write down the point you want the headline to make and the information the body needs to explain. Then assign a font to each role. A distinctive headline face does not need to carry the long paragraphs beneath it.

Start with one family: a heavier cut for the headline and a regular weight for the body. Compare that layout with your two-family version. If you cannot say what the second family adds, you may not need it.

Test contrast through scale and character

Two similar sans serifs at the same size and weight may be hard to distinguish. Test a change in headline size, weight or line length. You may establish a clear hierarchy without changing families.

With two families, compare letter widths, rounded forms and terminals. Look at how a narrow headline sits above a wider body face, and decide whether that rhythm suits the page. The density you want on an event poster may make a long article tiring to read.

Avoid changing the font, size and colour in the same comparison. Keep the layout fixed and adjust one variable. Read the result, then decide whether that change helped.

Include the awkward copy

Use the longest headline you expect, a subheading and several lines of body copy. Attractive sample words tell you little about a full page. For Turkish content, check İ, ı, Ş, ş, Ğ, ğ, Ç, ç, Ö, ö, Ü and ü. Add numbers, punctuation and dates if your design needs them.

Read the paragraph at its intended size. Extra letter spacing cannot solve every problem with a typeface. Check the size and weight first, then adjust the line spacing. Notice how easily your eye moves from the end of one line to the start of the next.

Review beyond the desktop canvas

A balanced desktop headline may break into short, awkward lines on a phone. Test a narrow viewport and enlarged text. Adjust the headline without squeezing the body column or shrinking the copy until it becomes hard to read.

Review the design in its intended setting. View social content on a phone; for printed work, check a copy at actual size. A large presentation preview cannot tell you how a reader will experience the finished work.

Check the pairing before you decide

Keep two final versions for comparison. Record the chosen family, its role and its working sizes in a short note. You can use that note for the next design without repeating the whole search.

• I can tell which information to read first when scanning the headline.
• I can read the body paragraph at the intended viewing size.
• The selected cuts handle Turkish characters, punctuation and numbers.
• Long headings and enlarged text stay within the layout.
• I have checked the font licence for the intended use.