Having Choice: A Slab Serif Typeface for Polished Brand Identity
I was staring at a stack of blank kraft boxes, feeling that familiar knot in my stomach. As a small business owner selling handmade skincare, I knew the packaging was the first physical touchpoint a customer had with my brand. My previous labels looked fine, but they lacked that "premium" feel I wanted to convey. I needed something that felt established and trustworthy, not just cute or trendy. That’s when I decided to refresh my entire visual identity using Having Choice, a sharp, elegant slab serif typeface that promised exactly what I was looking for: a delicate touch with a clean look.
If you are a creator, entrepreneur, or designer trying to elevate your brand from "hobbyist" to "professional," typography is often the silent hero behind the scenes. It doesn’t scream for attention, but it dictates how people perceive your quality. After testing Having Choice across various materials—from product labels to social media graphics—I found it to be a versatile, reliable partner for building a serious project’s visual foundation.
The Personality of Having Choice
At first glance, having choice is a classic slab serif font. But unlike some heavy, blocky slab serifs that can feel industrial or aggressive, this typeface has a refined elegance. The glyphs are constructed with precision, offering a balanced weight that feels substantial without being overwhelming. It sits somewhere between traditional editorial design and modern minimalism.
For a small business, personality matters. You want your brand to feel approachable yet authoritative. Having Choice strikes that balance perfectly. It has a warm, inviting presence because of its slightly rounded terminals, but it maintains professionalism through its strict geometric structure. When I used it for my main logo lockup, it immediately signaled to customers that my products were high-quality and carefully crafted. It’s a premium font that doesn’t try too hard; it lets the design speak for itself.
This typeface is particularly effective for brands that want to communicate stability and heritage. Whether you are running a boutique, a café, or an online shop, having choice adds a layer of sophistication that simple sans-serif fonts sometimes lack. It feels curated, intentional, and thoughtful—exactly the vibe I wanted for my skincare line.
Real-World Application: From Packaging to Digital
The true test of any typeface is how well it performs across different mediums. I put Having Choice through its paces on both print and digital assets to see how it held up.
Product Labels and Packaging Design
This is where Having Choice truly shines. On my ingredient lists and back labels, the legibility is excellent. The clear distinction between letters ensures that even smaller text remains readable, which is crucial for compliance and customer trust. For the front of the jar, I used the heavier weights for the product name. The slab serifs provided enough visual weight to stand out against the soft pastel background of the label, creating a strong hierarchy without needing additional graphic elements.
I also experimented with using Having Choice for stickers and hang tags. The font’s clean lines allowed me to use negative space effectively, making the tags look airy and expensive. It proved that a display font like this can handle short phrases beautifully, acting as both a headline and a decorative accent.
Menus and Editorial Design
Although I don’t run a restaurant, I do create downloadable meal plans for my clients. Using Having Choice for the menu headers gave the documents a cohesive, magazine-like feel. The serif details added character without distracting from the content. It worked seamlessly alongside body text, proving that this font can support longer reads while still commanding attention in headings.
Social Media Graphics and Web Design
In the digital world, readability is king. When designing Instagram templates or website banners, I found that Having Choice rendered sharply on mobile screens. Its bold presence made static images stop the scroll. I paired it with a clean sans serif font for captions and call-to-action buttons, creating a modern typography style that felt fresh and updated. The contrast between the structured slab serif and the neutral sans serif created a dynamic visual rhythm that kept the audience engaged.
Why Typography Impacts First Impressions
Many business owners underestimate the power of font pairing and consistent branding. Your typography is part of your brand identity. When every touchpoint—from your email signature to your product box—uses the same coherent voice, you build recognition. Having Choice helped me achieve that consistency.
When a potential customer sees a font that looks professional and deliberate, they subconsciously associate that care with your product quality. A messy or mismatched font can signal disorganization, whereas a sharp, elegant slab serif like Having Choice signals reliability. This is especially important for logo design. A logo needs to be memorable and scalable. Having Choice’s unique glyph construction ensures that it remains distinct even when scaled down to a favicon or blown up on a billboard.
Furthermore, the font’s versatility allows for creative experimentation. I used it for commercial font licensing on merchandise, such as tote bags and branded notebooks. The sturdy nature of the slab serifs printed beautifully on fabric, maintaining its crisp edges. This adaptability makes it a valuable asset for any design assets library.
Practical Tips for Using Having Choice
If you are considering adding Having Choice to your toolkit, here are a few practical tips based on my experience:
- Focus on Headlines and Short Phrases: While it is readable, this font is best suited as a creative font for titles, logos, and key messages. Use it to grab attention, then pair it with a simpler font for long paragraphs.
- Experiment with Weights: The font family likely includes multiple weights. Use the lighter weights for subtle accents or secondary information, and reserve the bolder weights for primary headlines. This creates depth and guides the viewer’s eye.
- Check File Formats and Alternates: Before purchasing, ensure the package includes all necessary file formats (OTF, TTF) and check for alternate glyphs or ligatures. These small details can add a custom touch to your brand identity.
- Consider Multilingual Support: If you plan to sell internationally, verify that the font supports the characters you need. Having Choice offers robust language support, making it a safe bet for global audiences.
- Readability on Small Screens: Always test your designs on mobile devices. Slab serifs can sometimes feel heavy on small screens if the spacing isn't adjusted. Increase letter-spacing slightly for better legibility on thumbnails and social media posts.
Ultimately, choosing the right fonts is about solving problems. Having Choice solved my problem of looking "too homemade" by giving me a tool that felt inherently professional. It allowed me to focus on my product and my story, knowing that the visual presentation was solid, elegant, and memorable. For any small business owner looking to make a lasting impression, Having Choice is definitely a valid choice worth exploring.
