Psychedelic fonts are everywhere this year–from the lettering on Lorde’s new album Solar Power album to the global fast food chain Burger King.
And who would’ve guessed psychedelic typography could be so versatile? It’s loud, bold, and trippy—the complete opposite of the “less is more” mantra of mid-century minimalism. In fact, psychedelic type was first inspired by even earlier artistic movements from the early to mid-20th centuries–the flowing curves of Art Nouveau, the stylized graphics of Viennese Secession (Gustav Kilmt, anyone?), and the dreamlike quality of surrealism. The psychedelic period itself was dominated by famous artists like Wes Wilson, Victor Moscoso, Rick Griffin, and Bonny MacLean, who created poster designs characterized by swirling colors, bold contrasts, and groovy fonts in the movement’s epicenter, San Francisco .
Today, these iconic styles are not only evocative of hippie counterculture and classic rock music, but they also represent opportunities for experimentation. Once used for print ads and posters, psychedelic letterforms add a refreshing twist to modern-day design, infusing brands with personality and helping them stand out both in print and on the web.
Want to jump on the bandwagon? We’ve assembled 20 of the best psychedelic fonts for web design so you can make your next projects even groovier.
20 psychedelic fonts
1. Plinc Superstar
This psychedelic font from House Industries is a bold script designed by Dave West in the 1970s. Described as “juicy” and “full-bodied,” the glyphs also come in a shiny version, giving the font a sense of luxury and three-dimensional roundness. This flashy font works best for logos, clothing designs, and poster work.
Screenshot: House Industries.
2. Plinc Banjo
Another House Industries font from Dave West, Plinc Banjo manages to merge the Wild West with hippie counterculture. This rounded, high-contrast serif font is reminiscent of a saloon on the American frontier, but with a 1970s twist. It’s a great choice for logos, large and medium-sized headers, and poster designs for psychedelic brands with a retro twist.
Screenshot: House Industries.
3. Cooper Nouveau
Cooper Black is a longstanding font with a cult following–in fact, it’s come to refer to an entire typographic genre and even has its own short documentary. Cooper Nouveau, designed in 1966, is Dave West’s contribution to the Cooper family. This version takes the already bold and playful font and gives it a plumper figure and smoother, more generous curves. This friendly typeface is simultaneously confident and relaxed, and it works well for logos and image captions.
Screenshot: House Industries.
4. Cheee
Cheee, along with the two fonts that follow, are featured in the Psychedelic Psampler by Oh no Type Company. Cheee is an all-caps style marked by a contrast between thick and narrow strokes, with extreme thin lines that bulge outward dramatically at the top and bottom. Smortius, the particular weight of Cheee featured in the Psychedelic Sampler, is particularly 1970s. Exaggeratedly bottom-heavy, it’s instantly evocative of bell bottom pants.
Image courtesy: Oh no Type Company.
5. Eckmannpsych
Also featured in OH no Type’s Psychedelic Psampler, this typeface is heavily inspired by the psychedelic era–but with much earlier roots. It’s a trippy take on Eckmann-Schrift, a typeface designed by German painter and graphic artist Otto Eckmann in 1899. While Eckmann’s own typeface was based on a blend of Japanese calligraphy and medieval font design, Eckmannpsych’s exaggerated curvature, contrast, and flare make it unmistakably 1970s.
Image courtesy Oh no Type Company.
6. Hobeaux
Another psychedelic font by OH no Type, Hobeaux draws influence from Hobo, an earlier typeface with a different spelling but the same pronunciation. James Edmondson, who designed Hobeaux, was inspired by Hobo’s Art Nouveau roots, lack of straight lines or right angles, and soft curves. Using Hobo as the foundation for his ideas, he created his own modern interpretation–one that’s simultaneously a nod to the past and a vision for the future.
Image courtesy: Oh no Type Company.
7. Gela
This psychedelic font grew out of an Instagram sketch posted by designer Lewis MacDonald of Polytype. MacDonald was inspired by the funky typography of the 1970s, but wanted to add his own touch. “I tried to move away from '70s pastiche territory and develop something more original," MacDonald says of the evolution of Gela. "I introduced sharp, precise details, and took a playful approach to contrast—meaning the difference between heavy and light strokes in a glyph, and where they're placed.”
Image courtesy Lewis MacDonald.
8. Dreamland
Designed by Jim Parkinson, Dreamland grew out of the top-heavy lettering of early to mid-1900s showcards. The typeface has a casual, easygoing feel thanks to its rounded lowercase letters. With four parallel lines comprising each stroke, the font appears like a series of rainbows and is unmistakably retro. Use this font to accompany images for a sleek and trendy old school style.