Bored Trying: The Mixed Font with a Handmade Soul
You know the feeling. You're scrolling through font libraries, seeing the same clean geometric sans-serifs and predictable serifs over and over. It all starts to blur together. Then something stops you. Bored Trying isn't just another typeface; it's a statement. It's a deliberate mix of two worlds: the historic, dramatic weight of blackletter for its uppercase letters and the clean, modern simplicity of a sans-serif for its lowercase. The result is a font that feels both ancient and contemporary, structured yet wildly organic.
What truly sets Bored Trying apart is its texture. It doesn't look like it was spit out perfectly by a machine. It has a rough, handmade quality—the edges are slightly uneven, the strokes have a human touch. This isn't a flaw; it's the entire point. It injects a sense of authenticity, craft, and immediacy into any project. In a digital landscape saturated with sterile perfection, this premium font offers a breath of fresh, imperfect air. It’s a creative font for designers who want their work to feel approachable and real, not corporate and distant.
Where Does This Unconventional Font Shine?
Think about projects where personality and impact are non-negotiable. Bored Trying excels as a display font, perfect for grabbing attention in headlines, logos, and hero sections. Its unique character makes it a powerhouse for brand identity work, especially for brands that want to convey heritage, artistry, rebellion, or a handcrafted ethos. Imagine it on the label of a small-batch spirits brand, the cover of an indie music album, or the masthead of a niche magazine. It instantly communicates a story.
For poster design and editorial design, its mixed-case structure creates a natural and compelling visual hierarchy. The bold blackletter capitals draw the eye for main titles, while the sans-serif lowercase ensures body text or subtitles remain legible. It’s a fantastic choice for packaging design that needs to stand out on a shelf, for social media graphics that stop the scroll, and for web design hero text that needs immediate impact. Even for personal projects like wedding invitations, event posters, or craft projects, its organic feel adds a layer of bespoke charm that more rigid fonts lack.
Making It Work: Practical Guidance for Your Projects
Adopting a font like Bored Trying requires a bit of thoughtful strategy. First, consider your audience and message. Its blackletter roots can evoke tradition, authority, or a certain subcultural edge. Paired with its handmade texture, it leans into authenticity. Is that the right fit for your client or your own brand? It’s a commercial font, so ensure you have the proper license for your use case, whether it's a personal blog or a client's product packaging.
Next, test it relentlessly. Does it hold up at small sizes? The intricate details of the uppercase might muddy at very small point sizes, so it’s best used for headlines and large text. This is where its role as a display typeface is key. Evaluate the three included styles—Regular, Blurred, and Stencil—to see which vibe best matches your project. The Blurred style adds a softer, more atmospheric feel, while the Stencil offers a utilitarian, industrial edge. Both maintain the core handmade character.
Font pairing is crucial. Because Bored Trying has such a strong voice, it pairs best with simple, neutral companions. A clean sans-serif font for body copy or a straightforward serif font for longer reading will provide balance and ensure overall readability. Avoid pairing it with other ornate script fonts or highly decorative handwritten fonts, as they will compete for attention and create visual chaos. The goal is to let Bored Trying be the star while supporting text remains clear and functional.
Finally, consider the technical aspects. Bored Trying supports multiple languages, which is a significant advantage for international projects or brands with a global audience. Test it across your intended mediums—view it on screen and, if possible, in print. The texture that looks great digitally might translate beautifully to letterpress or screen printing, enhancing the tactile quality of the final product.
Choosing the right typeface is about more than just aesthetics; it's about finding a voice. Bored Trying offers a voice that is unmistakable, textured, and full of character. It’s not for every project, but for the right one—whether it’s a logo design for a craft brewery, a web design for an artist's portfolio, or a series of social media graphics for a workshop—it can be the element that transforms good design into something memorable and deeply engaging. It’s a design asset for those willing to step off the beaten path and embrace a little beautiful imperfection.
