Solla Solaa: A Playful Display Font That Brings Personality to Branding
Starting Fresh: A Blank Canvas and a New Font
There’s something exciting—and a little intimidating—about opening a new brand project in Adobe Illustrator. You’ve got your brief, your moodboard, and your coffee. But where to start? For a recent project with a small artisanal tea shop, I knew the brand needed a voice: friendly, a little whimsical, and definitely not corporate. That’s when I reached for Solla Solaa.
First Impressions: What Makes Solla Solaa Stand Out
Solla Solaa immediately caught my eye with its quirky curves and charming imperfections. It’s a display font, no doubt about it—meant to be seen, not read in long paragraphs. The lowercase feels like a playful whisper, while the uppercase commands attention with a confident bounce. It’s the kind of font that says, “I’m fun, but I know what I’m doing.”
As I typed out the shop’s name in the first logo draft, I could already see the personality coming through. The font’s rounded edges and uneven baseline give it a handmade feel, and the subtle alternates add just enough character without being overwhelming.
Logo Design: Making a Statement with Solla Solaa
For the tea shop logo, I wanted something that felt warm and inviting. Solla Solaa was perfect as the primary logotype. It gave the brand a youthful, approachable vibe that resonated with their target audience: young professionals and local creatives.
I played with letter spacing and added a soft shadow effect to give depth. The font held up beautifully at larger sizes, maintaining clarity and charm even when stretched slightly for visual balance. It wasn’t just legible—it was memorable.
Brand Identity: More Than Just a Logo
Once the logo was approved, I moved into the broader brand system. Solla Solaa became the headline font across all materials. From social media headers to printed menus, it was used sparingly but effectively to highlight key brand messages and calls to action.
- Business Cards: Paired with a clean sans serif for body text, Solla Solaa stood out in the shop’s name and tagline.
- Menu Design: Used for section headers like “Today’s Specials” or “Tea of the Week,” it gave the menu a lively rhythm.
- Instagram Posts: For quote graphics and event announcements, the font added a visual pop without being distracting.
It worked especially well in digital templates, where its personality helped the brand stand out in crowded feeds. The contrast between Solla Solaa and more neutral supporting fonts created a clear visual hierarchy that guided the viewer’s eye naturally.
Packaging Design: Cute, But Not Too Sweet
When it came to packaging, I was a little nervous. Display fonts can easily tip into “too much” territory when used on product labels or bags. But Solla Solaa struck a nice balance. On the tea pouches, it was used for flavor names like “Lavender Dream” and “Citrus Sunrise.” The font’s rounded forms and soft texture made the flavors feel more inviting and sensory.
On the main packaging box, I used it for the brand name again, this time with a bolder weight. It was eye-catching on the shelf but didn’t compromise professionalism. The font’s clean outlines and well-spaced letters ensured it remained legible even from a distance.
Font Pairing: Finding the Right Supporting Cast
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a designer is that a strong headline font needs a good supporting typeface. With Solla Solaa, I found that a soft sans serif like Quicksand or a slightly textured serif like Cormorant Garamond worked beautifully.
These pairings gave the brand a balanced typographic system: playful but grounded, expressive but readable. The contrast between the organic flow of Solla Solaa and the structured elegance of a serif or the neutrality of a sans serif created a layered visual experience that felt intentional and cohesive.
Practical Considerations: Licensing, Formats, and Features
Before committing to Solla Solaa for the full brand system, I made sure to double-check the font’s licensing and included features. It’s always a good idea to confirm whether a font is cleared for commercial use, especially when designing for a client.
Luckily, Solla Solaa came with a clear commercial license and included multiple file formats—perfect for both print and web use. It also offered stylistic alternates and ligatures, which allowed for subtle customization without overcomplicating the design.
Final Touches: From Mockups to Real-World Use
Testing the font in real-world mockups was the final step. I used Adobe Photoshop to visualize how the font would look on shop signage, window decals, and even merchandise like tote bags and mugs. Each time, Solla Solaa maintained its charm and clarity.
On the homepage hero section of the brand’s website, it was used for the headline above the fold. Paired with a clean sans serif for the subheader, it helped establish a strong first impression that aligned with the brand’s tone.
In printed marketing materials like flyers and thank-you cards, the font added a personal, handcrafted feel that customers responded to. It wasn’t just a design choice—it became part of the brand’s voice.
Recommendations for Using Solla Solaa in Client Work
If you’re considering Solla Solaa for a branding or design project, here are a few practical tips:
- Use it as a display font: Let it shine in headlines, logos, and short-form text. Avoid using it for long paragraphs or small text.
- Test it in context: See how it looks on mockups, signage, and digital screens before finalizing.
- Pair it wisely: Balance its playful nature with a more neutral secondary font to maintain readability and hierarchy.
- Check the features: Make sure to explore ligatures, alternates, and available weights to get the most out of the typeface.
Overall, Solla Solaa proved to be a versatile and expressive font that brought life and personality to a real-world branding project. Whether you’re designing for a small café, boutique, or creative studio, it’s a great choice when you want your typography to speak with a little flair and a lot of heart.
