From Schabo to Lust: Why I’m Done Playing it Safe with Typography

If we want to build digital products that actually have a soul, we have to start with the bones: the typography.

Schabo isn't a font you use for a "About Us" paragraph. It’s an architectural statement. It’s ultra-condensed and heavy, feeling almost like it was stenciled onto a shipping container. In a world of airy, thin headers, Schabo hits like a ton of bricks.

The Pairing: Pair it with something wide and "invisible" like Inter or Space Mono.

The Logic: Since Schabo is so vertically compressed, you need a body font with a lot of horizontal breathing room. It creates that "brutalist" look that stands out in a feed of soft gradients.

If Schabo is a shipping container, Quizlo is a premium cushion. It’s chunky and friendly, but it doesn’t feel childish. It’s got that "bubbly tech" vibe that’s perfect for consumer apps.

The Pairing: Montserrat (Light) or Lato

The Logic: You don’t want to compete with Quizlo’s curves. Use a very light-weight geometric sans. The contrast between the "thick" headline and the "thin" subline is what makes the hierarchy pop.

🔗 Official Download Link: MyFonts - Quizlo

Let’s be real: Lust is a lot to handle. It’s high-contrast, razor-sharp, and extremely editorial. It’s the kind of font you see in Vogue. It’s arrogant, beautiful, and honestly, a bit of a nightmare if you don't know how to frame it.

The Pairing: Proxima Nova or Aileron.

The Logic: Lust needs a "boring" partner. You want a typeface that stays out of the way. A sturdy, predictable sans-serif lets the serifs on Lust do all the talking.

🔗 Official Link: Adobe Fonts (Included with Creative Cloud)

Salena is for when you want to look expensive but you don’t want to brag about it. It’s a modern sans with these really intentional, refined curves. It’s the "Old Money" of the font world.

The Pairing: EB Garamond.

The Logic: This is the ultimate "Boutique Agency" pairing. The modern curves of Salena mixed with the historical weight of Garamond makes a brand look like it has a legacy, even if it’s a day old.

🔗 Official Link: MyFonts - Salena

One thing AI still struggles with is "imperfection." Bargain is a script that actually feels like someone wrote it with a marker. It breaks the grid. It’s messy in a way that feels authentic and warm.

The Pairing: Poppins.

The Logic: Balance the "human" messiness of Bargain with the mathematical perfection of Poppins. It’s a classic "Organic vs. Geometric" play that works every time.

Gibed is just... solid. It’s a bold display sans that feels grounded. It’s not trying to be the coolest kid in the room; it’s just trying to be the most reliable. It’s great for logos because it scales so well.

The Pairing: Gibson.

The Logic: Keep it in the family. Using a similar humanist sans for the body text creates a cohesive brand identity that feels professional and intentional, not just "chosen from a dropdown menu."

I’m on a mission to see fewer "safe" layouts this year. If you had to ban Inter, Roboto, and Open Sans from your toolkit for just one project, what would you replace them with?