Make Waves: A Quirky Font for Web Design Projects
I was working on a redesign for a boutique online store last week, and I needed a font that felt fresh but still professional. The client wanted something unique that would stand out in the hero section without being too distracting. That’s when I came across Make Waves, a handwritten font from Script Amp that immediately caught my eye.
The moment I previewed it on the homepage, I knew this could be the right choice. It had that whimsical, slightly quirky feel that matched the brand's personality—playful yet approachable. It wasn’t just about looking good; it had to work well in different parts of the layout, especially on mobile screens where readability is key.
What Makes Make Waves Stand Out?
Make Waves is a script font with a hand-drawn aesthetic. Its curves and slight irregularities give it a natural, human touch. It feels like you're reading a note someone wrote with care rather than a block of text from a corporate brochure. This makes it perfect for creative projects that need a personal or artistic flair.
It’s not overly ornate, which means it can hold its own in headers without overwhelming the design. The characters are spaced well, and the ascenders and descenders don’t get too long, which helps maintain clarity even in smaller sizes.
Where Can You Use Make Waves?
After testing it in a few different areas of the site, I found that Make Waves worked best in hero sections, call-to-action buttons, and section headings. For example, using it as the main headline in the hero area gave the page a friendly and inviting tone. On a product landing page, it helped draw attention to limited-time offers and special promotions.
It also looked great over image banners, especially when paired with a subtle overlay. I used it for the title of a blog post header and found that it added a nice visual contrast against a dark background without sacrificing legibility.
However, I didn’t use it for body copy or long-form content. As with most display fonts, Make Waves is better suited for short phrases, titles, and decorative accents. For body text, I paired it with a clean sans serif font like Montserrat to ensure readability and maintain a strong visual hierarchy.
Readability and Responsive Design
One of the first things I checked was how Make Waves performed on mobile devices. I tested it at different screen sizes and noticed that while it looked great on desktop, it required some adjustments for smaller screens. I increased the font size slightly for mobile views and made sure there was enough contrast between the text and background.
When using it on dark backgrounds, I applied a light text color to avoid eye strain. For light backgrounds, I kept the font color consistent with the overall palette. I also avoided using it on small buttons or tight spaces where it might appear cluttered or hard to read.
Another thing to consider is loading performance. Since Make Waves is available as a webfont, I made sure to optimize the load time by using a font loader and only including the necessary styles. This helped keep the website fast and responsive without compromising on design quality.
Font Pairing Tips
Pairing Make Waves with other fonts can help create a balanced and visually appealing layout. I found that combining it with a modern sans serif like Lato or Open Sans created a nice contrast. The clean lines of the sans serif provided a solid foundation, while the handwritten style of Make Waves added a creative edge.
If the project has a more editorial feel, pairing it with a serif font like Merriweather or Playfair Display can give it a more sophisticated look. Just be careful not to overdo it—too many fonts can make a design feel cluttered.
Branding and User Experience
Using Make Waves helped reinforce the brand’s personality. It brought a sense of authenticity and creativity to the website, which resonated well with the target audience. It also helped improve user engagement by making the content feel more approachable and relatable.
From a UX perspective, it was important to ensure that the font didn’t interfere with the user’s ability to scan through the content quickly. By limiting its use to headlines and key messages, I maintained a clear visual hierarchy and guided users through the page effectively.
I also made sure to check the licensing terms before using Make Waves on the live site. It’s always crucial to confirm that the font supports commercial use, especially if the project involves an online store or paid content.
Overall, Make Waves was a great fit for the project. It added a unique touch without sacrificing functionality or usability. If you're looking for a font that brings character to your designs while maintaining readability and professionalism, Make Waves is definitely worth considering.
