Best in Class Font: A Playful Display Typeface for Web Designers
I had just opened the homepage mockup for a boutique skincare brand when I realized the hero section was missing something. The photography was clean, the color palette felt organic, but the headline text in a standard sans-serif looked too corporate. The brand needed warmth and personality. That’s when I decided to test Best in Class, a display typeface known for its unique, handcrafted charm.
Best in Class is not a typical font. It’s a display typeface with a lively, slightly irregular letterform structure. The rounded terminals, playful swashes, and gentle baseline shifts give it a friendly, approachable energy that feels like a custom sign-painted design. As soon as I dropped it into the hero headline, the entire layout came alive. The words “Small Batch, Big Heart” suddenly felt like a brand promise, not just text.
First Impressions: Previewing the Font on Mobile
I immediately previewed the hero section on a mobile screen. Display fonts often struggle at smaller sizes, but Best in Class held up surprisingly well. The characters remained distinct, and the playful personality didn’t break into illegible chaos. I adjusted the font size to 2.5rem for the main headline and kept the line height generous, ensuring that even on a 375px-wide viewport, the message was clear and inviting. This early test proved that the typeface was versatile enough for responsive layouts, not just large desktop hero banners.
Bringing the Font into the Visual Hierarchy
Encouraged, I started applying Best in Class to other key areas: the section headings, the newsletter sign‑up call‑to‑action, and even the product category banners. I discovered that it performed best as a primary accent font—paired with a clean, neutral sans‑serif like Inter or System UI for body copy. The contrast between the playful display font and the simple body text created a visual hierarchy that guided users naturally from bold statements to detailed product descriptions.
For a coaching website I was also working on, the hero section with “Find Your Path Forward” set in Best in Class immediately communicated empathy and energy. On a product landing page for a digital course, the font’s playful nature made the “Enroll Now” button feel more human and less salesy, while still drawing the eye exactly where it needed to go.
Bonus Typefaces That Extend the Design Toolkit
The font package included two bonus typefaces: Chocolate Valentine and Tresno In Love. I was curious how these might extend the brand’s visual language. Chocolate Valentine turned out to be a sweet, flowing script font perfect for limited‑time offer badges or a handwritten “thank you” note on the checkout page. Tresno In Love had a romantic, elegant script style that I saved for a curated Valentine’s Day gift guide landing page. Having these extras felt like a complete design toolkit, not just a single font. It meant I could create campaign-specific graphics, social media teasers, and even email headers without relying on multiple typeface purchases.
Font Pairing for Web Design: Finding the Right Balance
For web designers, font pairing is one of the most critical decisions. A display typeface like Best in Class needs a supporting cast that doesn’t compete. I found that a straightforward geometric sans‑serif like Montserrat or a humanist sans like Open Sans worked beautifully. The key is to let Best in Class do the heavy lifting for headlines, while the body font remains invisible and easy to read. I also tested a serif font for body copy on a blog section, which gave the site a more editorial, magazine‑style feel. The combination of Best in Class headlines with a serif body felt sophisticated without losing the friendly vibe.
Here’s a practical pairing guide I often use:
- Hero headlines: Best in Class (display) — large, bold, full of character.
- Body text: A clean sans‑serif like Inter, Open Sans, or a neutral humanist font.
- Accent text: One of the bonus scripts for badges, stickers, or short decorative phrases.
- Buttons and CTAs: Best in Class at a slightly smaller size, with increased letter‑spacing for clarity.
Readability, Scanning, and User Experience
Readability is about more than just font size. I tested the hero headline over a dark background image, a light solid background, and a gradient overlay. Best in Class maintained its legibility well, but I had to be mindful of contrast. On a dark background, I used a slightly heavier weight (if available) or increased the letter‑spacing by 0.5px to prevent the characters from blending together. On light backgrounds, the font’s personality came through without any adjustments. I also checked how quickly users could scan the text. The irregular shapes of the display font actually helped some words stand out, making key phrases like “Free Shipping” or “Join the Community” harder to miss. However, I avoided using it for long paragraphs; it’s a display typeface, not a workhorse for reading comfort.
For mobile screens, I kept the font size no smaller than 1.8rem for headlines, and I always tested on a real device. The slightly organic baseline of Best in Class meant that stacking two lines of text occasionally needed a bit more line‑height to avoid visual clutter. But these were minor tweaks that any designer can handle in browser DevTools.
Real‑World Uses Across Different Digital Projects
Since that first skincare project, I’ve used Best in Class in several other contexts:
- A portfolio homepage for a photographer, where the font’s handcrafted feel echoed the artisan nature of the work.
- A course sales page for a creative writing workshop, where the headline “Unlock Your Voice” felt instantly more personal.
- A small business website for a local bakery, where the font shouted “freshly baked” without saying a word.
- A promotional campaign landing page, where Best in Class and the bonus script Chocolate Valentine worked together to create a cohesive festive mood.
In each case, the font added a sense of craft and approachability that generic web fonts couldn’t match. It didn’t feel like a template; it felt like a deliberate design choice that strengthened the brand identity.
Technical Considerations for Web Designers
Before committing to the font for a client project, I checked the webfont kit. The download included WOFF and WOFF2 formats, which are essential for modern browser support and fast loading. I also verified that the font supported the Latin Extended character set, covering the client’s multilingual needs. The commercial license allowed use on a single website with unlimited pageviews, which was perfect for a growing small business. I always recommend double‑checking the EULA, especially if you plan to use the font in a digital template or a SaaS product interface.
Web performance is a top priority. I subsetted the font to include only the characters needed for the headlines, reducing the file size to under 30KB. I also used the font-display: swap CSS property to ensure text was visible during the font loading phase, preventing a flash of invisible text. Best in Class loaded quickly and didn’t cause layout shifts, which is critical for Core Web Vitals.
When a Display Typeface Becomes a Brand Anchor
By the time the skincare site launched, the hero section felt like an extension of the brand’s handmade ethos. Best in Class had become the visual anchor—not just a headline font, but a signature of the brand’s voice. The bonus fonts gave me the flexibility to create campaign‑specific graphics without hiring an illustrator. The site felt cohesive, joyful, and genuinely unique. I’ve since added Best in Class to my personal design toolkit, and I keep returning to it whenever a project needs a dose of personality without compromising digital usability.
For any web designer, UI designer, or digital product creator looking to move beyond sterile typography, this display typeface offers a refreshing middle ground. It’s playful enough to make a statement, yet legible enough to work in real‑world interfaces. Just remember to pair it wisely, test it on mobile, and let your brand’s story shine through every character.
