Bold & Groovy: Exploring 70s inspired typography & lettering

You may have noticed the seventies have been making quite the comeback in design—especially in the realm of type. An era that many would consider the “Golden Age of Typography” is making its way back into modern graphic design, and we are here for it.

Today, we’re exploring modern typography and lettering styles inspired by this disco-infused decade. We’re also sharing some helpful resources for graphic designers interested in dipping their toes in the nostalgic waters of seventies type. Let’s jump right in!

Common themes & attributes

When it comes to letterforms inspired the 70s, bold and groovy is the name of the game. Explore the Shots below to see how today’s designers are giving their work a retro aesthetic using seventies-inspired type. You’ll quickly notice a few defining characteristics:

Expressiveness over legibility
Dramatic ligatures and swashes
Letterforms with movement
Tight letterspacing
Bulbous letter shapes
Bold flourishes and embellishments
Letterforms that carry weight towards their baseline
Thick drop shadows

Shot Link

Row 1: Neil Hubert, Amy Hood for Hoodzpah, Tractorbeam. Row 2: Matt Curley, Drew Lakin, Noelle Campbell. Row 3: Titus Smith, Loren Klein, Joe Hansen. Row 4: Dayan D'Aniello for Guerilla Suit, Jordan Wilson, Jonathan Ball.

Lettering resources:

Interested in creating your very own funkadelic letters? Whether you’re new at hand-lettering or a seasoned pro, the workbooks and resources below are great for practicing this style on paper or on your iPad. Check em out:

Truth Hurts

by Monique Aimee

Inspired by Lizzo of course! Available as a print and tshirt in my shop: http://moniqueaimee.com/shop/you-are-made-of-magic-p2cx5

View on Dribbble

Fonts to download:

Ready to give your own design work a groovy look and feel? Below is a roundup of seventies inspired fonts created by Dribbblers that you can start using in your work now. Click on your favorite Shots to find the download and purchase links: