BAUHAUS

Typography in brutalist design isn’t just about choosing fonts—it’s about making a statement. Brutalist typography rejects the soft, friendly approach of modern web design in favor of stark contrasts and raw visual impact.

Monospace Dominance

Monospace fonts are a brutalist staple. Their uniform character width creates a rigid, mechanical appearance that aligns perfectly with brutalist principles.

pre {
  font-family: "Courier New", monospace;
  background-color: #f0f0f0;
  padding: 24px;
  overflow-x: auto;
  border: 2px solid #000;
}

Hierarchical Contrast

Brutalist typography often features extreme size contrasts between headings and body text. This creates a visual hierarchy that’s impossible to ignore:

• Massive headings (48pt+)
• Standard body text (16pt)
• Tiny footnotes (8pt)

Technical Aesthetic

The technical, almost “undesigned” look of brutalist typography evokes computer terminals and early digital interfaces. This aesthetic celebrates the digital medium rather than trying to mimic print design.

Alignment and Spacing

Brutalist typography often uses:

1. Hard left alignment
2. Deliberate use of monospace to create grid-like structures
3. Unconventional spacing that creates tension
4. Lack of hyphenation, allowing lines to break naturally

Conclusion

Typography in brutalist design isn’t an afterthought—it’s a core component of the aesthetic. By embracing monospace fonts, extreme contrast, and technical characteristics, brutalist typography creates a distinctive visual language that stands in opposition to the homogenized design trends of the mainstream web.