Nejat’s Favorite Fonts

Special Content for the Senior/Staff Product Designer at TurbineOne

Off the cuff, I’d probably have to say Rockwell. My typography background’s rooted in my original days as a graphic designer than in pure, functional UI typography. I’ve always had a softspot for typefaces that feel like they have character and a strong POV. Rockwell’s got a sturdy, old-school, working-class thing going on that I really love. It feels confident, practical, and not overly precious. Its pretty limited when it comes to weights, however, which can make it less than ideal for a lot of applications.

From a more functional / product standpoint, I’d probably call out Proxima Nova. It’s not the flashiest answer, but that’s kind of the point. It’s legible, flexible, has a useful range of weights, and can work across a pretty wide ecosystem, from product UI to marketing pages or onboarding and support beats.

That matters a lot when you’re designing a larger funnel or system where people are coming back multiple times, seeing different surfaces, and trying to build trust with a product. Choosing the right typeface can help make all of those moments feel more coherent and familiar without users consciously thinking about it.

So I guess my real answer is that form follows function and the right tool for the right job. Personally, I like type that knows what job it’s doing. Sometimes that job is clarity and structure. Sometimes it’s personality and storytelling.

Also, shoutout to Wingdings, Papyrus, and Comic Sans, not because they’re great but because they get so much hate and I feel bad for them.