Bring Your Brand to Life with the Kicked Font
I was sitting at my desk, staring at a blank brand board for a new client—a cozy café called “Morning Brew.” The project was early in the design process, and I needed a font that could capture the warmth and charm of the space. That’s when I stumbled upon Kicked. It wasn’t just any font; it had a vintage style that felt both nostalgic and fresh. I decided to test it out on a few logo drafts.
Kicked is a display font with a unique personality. Its curves and angles give it a retro vibe, but it still feels modern enough to work in today’s branding world. The letterforms are bold yet elegant, making it perfect for grabbing attention without being overwhelming. I used it on a mockup of the café’s logo, and immediately, the design felt more alive. It added a sense of character that I hadn’t expected from a single typeface.
I started by applying Kicked to the main headline of the logo. The name “Morning Brew” stood out beautifully against a simple background. Next, I tested it on packaging mockups—menu cards, coffee bags, and even signage. Each time, the font brought a consistent visual language to the brand. It wasn’t just about aesthetics; it also helped establish a mood that aligned perfectly with the café’s brand identity: warm, inviting, and slightly quirky.
One thing I noticed quickly was how well Kicked works as a display font. It’s not meant for long paragraphs or body text, which makes sense given its design. But when used sparingly, it can elevate headlines, taglines, and key messages. I paired it with a clean sans-serif font for the supporting text, like the café’s menu descriptions. This combination created a nice contrast—Kicked handled the big statements, while the sans-serif took care of readability.
When designing social media graphics, I found that Kicked worked especially well on Instagram posts and Facebook banners. It added a touch of creativity without clashing with the platform’s visual style. I used it for captions, hashtags, and even short promotional phrases. The vintage feel of the font gave the posts an artistic edge that stood out in feeds filled with generic content.
I also experimented with using Kicked on merchandise. A custom T-shirt design for the café’s loyalty program looked amazing with the font. The boldness of Kicked made the text pop, and the vintage styling matched the overall theme of the brand. It wasn’t just a font—it became part of the story the café wanted to tell.
Of course, there were moments where I had to be careful. Because Kicked is so distinctive, it didn’t always work well in every context. For instance, using it on a small business card label felt too much. I ended up using it only for the main name and leaving the rest in a simpler font. It reminded me that while Kicked is versatile, it needs to be used thoughtfully.
Another thing I considered was font pairing. Kicked has a strong presence, so I had to choose fonts that complemented it rather than competed with it. A light serif font worked well for subheadings, and a modern sans-serif was great for body copy. The key was ensuring that the hierarchy remained clear and the message stayed easy to read.
As I moved through the design process, I also checked the font’s file formats and licensing. Since this was a commercial project, I needed to make sure I had the right permissions to use Kicked across different platforms and print materials. Fortunately, the font came with all the necessary styles, ligatures, and alternates to support a full brand system.
By the time I reached the final brand materials—logos, packaging, website headers, and printed collateral—I knew Kicked had played a crucial role in shaping the identity of Morning Brew. It wasn’t just about making things look good; it was about creating a cohesive visual language that resonated with the target audience. And that’s what good typography is all about.
If you’re working on a branding project that needs a touch of vintage flair or a unique display font, Kicked might be exactly what you need. Test it out in your next design, pair it wisely, and see how it brings your ideas to life. Sometimes, the right font can change everything.
