Be Awesome Instead: A Font That Feels Like a Good Cup of Coffee
It started with a blank brand board. I was sitting in my studio, sipping on an overpriced latte from a local café, trying to get into the headspace of a new client—a small, independent bookstore that also served as a cozy reading nook and coffee bar. The vibe was warm, inviting, and a little bit nostalgic. But the design needed to feel modern enough to attract both young creatives and older book lovers. And then it hit me—what if we used Be Awesome Instead? It’s a bookish sans serif font that somehow manages to be both legible and relaxed, making it perfect for this kind of hybrid space.
First Impressions: A Font That Understands Its Role
I’ve worked with hundreds of fonts over the years, but Be Awesome Instead has a unique balance. It doesn’t shout—it whispers with confidence. The curves are soft but not wimpy, the spacing is generous without being loose, and the character set feels thoughtfully crafted. It’s the kind of typeface you can read for hours, which makes it ideal for editorial design or long-form content. Yet it still holds its own in headlines and logos.
When I first opened the font file and previewed it against some background textures, I knew it would work well with the client’s aesthetic. The bookstore had a muted color palette—earths, deep greens, and warm grays—and Be Awesome Instead complemented those tones beautifully. It didn’t clash; it harmonized.
Logo Design: Finding the Right Voice
In logo design, especially for a brand like this, typography plays a huge role. We wanted something that felt approachable yet professional, something that could live on signage, packaging, and digital profiles without losing its charm. Be Awesome Instead fit the bill.
We tested several variations: bold for a more assertive look, regular for subtlety, and even light for a softer tagline. The result was a logo that felt friendly and grounded, exactly what the owner was looking for. The word “bookish” in the product description wasn’t just marketing fluff—it genuinely describes the font’s personality. It carries the warmth of literature without feeling stuffy or outdated.
Brand Identity: From Business Cards to Brochures
Once the logo was approved, the next step was building out the full brand identity. This included business cards, store signage, menu boards, and event flyers. Each of these required different weights and applications of the font.
- Business Cards: We went with the regular weight and paired it with a minimalist layout. The subtle serifs-like details in the sans serif structure gave it a quiet elegance that matched the café-bookstore duality.
- Signage: The bold version of Be Awesome Instead worked wonders on wood signs and chalkboard-style menus. It’s readable at a distance, but still maintains a human touch that prevents it from feeling too corporate.
- Flyers and Posters: For promotional materials, we layered the font with hand-drawn illustrations and photography. The contrast between the clean typography and the organic visuals created a nice tension—modern meets handmade.
One thing I appreciated was how consistent the font felt across all mediums. It didn’t behave differently when scaled down for a label or blown up for a window sign. That’s a big plus when designing for real-world use. Consistency builds recognition, and that’s key in branding.
Packaging and Labels: Keeping It Simple and Smart
The client also sells curated book bundles and locally sourced teas. Packaging design needs to be both functional and beautiful, and Be Awesome Instead handled that well. On sticker labels for tea tins, the font looked crisp and clear, while on larger packaging for book bundles, it added a sense of cohesion without overpowering the imagery.
What stood out here was the font’s versatility. It wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about usability. The open counters and slightly rounded edges made it easy to read at a glance, which is crucial for shelf visibility and impulse purchases. Plus, it paired effortlessly with a classic serif font in the body text, giving the brand a balanced typographic system.
Digital Applications: From Instagram to Website Headers
Branding isn’t just about print. In today’s world, your visual identity must translate smoothly online. Be Awesome Instead did that surprisingly well. On the homepage hero section, the font held up under different screen resolutions and still looked great—no pixelation issues. It also rendered cleanly in mobile view, which is a must-have for any web design project.
For social media graphics, particularly Instagram posts and stories, we used the medium and semi-bold weights. The font’s relaxed nature lent itself to casual, engaging content without sacrificing professionalism. When combined with line drawings or watercolor textures, it helped create a cohesive and creative feed that felt intentional and inviting.
Font Pairing Tips for Real Projects
If you’re considering using Be Awesome Instead, here are a few pairing ideas based on our project:
- Serif Fonts: Think of a classic serif like Merriweather or Lora for body text. The contrast helps guide the eye and adds depth to the hierarchy.
- Modern Sans Serifs: For a more streamlined look, pair it with something like Inter or Montserrat. This works especially well in digital interfaces or minimalistic branding systems.
- Script or Handwritten Fonts: Use sparingly. A cursive script like Pacifico or Allura can add flair to a subheading or signature, but don’t overdo it. Be Awesome Instead is the star here.
My favorite combo? Be Awesome Instead Bold with a lighter, more elegant serif. It gives you the best of both worlds—clean and readable headings with rich, flowing body copy.
Readability and Brand Perception: Why It Matters
Let’s talk about readability for a second. As a designer, I know that a font might look cool now, but if it’s hard to read later, it’s not doing anyone any favors. Be Awesome Instead passed every test we threw at it. Whether it was a printed brochure with small text or a large poster for a weekend event, the font stayed true to its roots—legible, approachable, and unpretentious.
This kind of reliability affects brand perception. If your audience reads your content easily, they’re more likely to trust your message. And if your brand name looks good in multiple formats, it becomes more recognizable. That’s not just good design—it’s smart design.
Testing Before Committing: Practical Advice
Before committing to a font for a full brand system, I always suggest testing it in context. Here’s how I approached it with Be Awesome Instead:
- Created mockups of a storefront sign and compared it to other sans serifs.
- Tested it in a sample website layout, including headers, buttons, and navigation bars.
- Printed out a business card prototype and held it up to sunlight to check ink bleed and clarity.
- Reviewed it on various screens—phone, tablet, desktop—to ensure it scales well.
These steps helped us see how the font performed in the real world, not just in a pretty preview. And honestly, Be Awesome Instead impressed at every stage. It didn’t need special effects to stand out—it simply did so naturally.
Commercial Use and Licensing Considerations
Another important factor in choosing a font is licensing. Be Awesome Instead comes with commercial font licenses, which is essential when working with clients who plan to sell products or run campaigns. We needed to make sure everything from their website headers to branded merchandise was covered legally.
The font also includes a solid range of styles and alternates, which is helpful when you want to vary the tone slightly across different assets. You’ll find ligatures and multilingual support if your brand operates beyond English, which is always a bonus for international appeal.
Final Observations and Recommendations
Working with Be Awesome Instead reminded me why I love the process of building a brand identity. It’s not just about picking a font that looks good—it’s about finding one that feels right. And this one does. It’s versatile enough to handle most design scenarios, yet distinct enough to help the brand stand out.
If you’re designing for a lifestyle brand, a boutique, a creative studio, or any business that wants to feel modern but warm, give Be Awesome Instead a try. It’s a premium font that brings a bookish charm to the table, proving that sans serifs can have soul.
And remember, the best way to know if a font will work for your project is to test it in real conditions. So go ahead—place it on a mockup, print it out, or layer it with your brand colors. Let it earn its place in your design toolkit the same way it earned its spot in ours.
