Are you planning a 1970s-themed party or event or working on a design and want to give it a vintage or retro look? It could be a poster, flyer, or website.
If you’re aiming to reach an audience with a fondness for retro aesthetics, one of the elements that will evoke feelings of nostalgia is your choice of font.
It’s even better as you’re designing with Canva because you have a lot of 70s fonts that can be used to instantly transport your audience back in time.
Some of the best 70s fonts on Canva include Times News Roman, Copper Black, Gill Sans, Kabel, Avant Garde Gothic, and ITC Benguiat.
I reviewed several of them in this article and also noted when and where these fonts can be used. For better clarity, I have separated the fonts under the Canva free version from the paid version.
Let’s get right into it and explore the best 70s fonts on Canva.
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Best 70s Fonts on Canva (Free Version)
1. Times New Roman
While Times New Roman wasn’t exactly created in the ’70s, it became widely known during that era because of its inclusion with early computer systems and word processing software.
Created in 1931 by Stanley Morison and Victor Lardent, the font has remained timeless because of its readability.
This makes it suitable for large bodies of text including newspapers, books, and documents. Thanks to its small decorative strokes at the end of the characters that guide the reader’s eye along the text.
Times New Roman indeed has a classical and timeless appearance and should be your best bet if you need a simple design.
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2. Garamond
This classic serif was created by Claude Garamond in the 16th century. However, it grew to become popular in the 1970s following the transition period in the printing industry.
Because the font has clear letterforms and spacing, it created an enjoyable reading experience for people and so it became the preferred choice for printing houses.
Another interesting thing to note about the Garamond font is that it is classical and elegant. Even to date, a lot of people are still using the font for their designs.
I love that its balanced proportions make it aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
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3. ITC Zapf Chancery
Do you want to create formal invitations, certificates, and other documents with a touch of sophistication and elegance? ITC Zapf Chancery should be your go-to font on Canva.
The font was created by Hermann Zapf and was released in 1979 as part of the International Typeface Corporation. You’ll notice that this font has a distinct and elegant calligraphic style with flowing, cursive letterforms.
The font is timeless and you can use it in different design contexts.
4. Cooper Black
Cooper Black is another font on Canva that gives off the 1970 nostalgia. Though the font was designed in 1922 by Oswald Bruse Cooper, it gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s because of its bold, rounded, and curvy letterforms.
It became the go-to font for advertisement and pop culture in that era. A lot of people started using it for posters and album covers.
Since the 1970s fonts have been known for their distinctive design aesthetics, Cooper Black’s bold and curvy letterforms fit well within this retro appearance.
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5. ITC Benguiat
If you’re creating 1970-inspired designs on Canva, especially book titles and movie posters, consider using the ITC Benguiat font. At a close look, you will notice that the font features bold, flowing, and ornate letterforms.
This makes it have an extravagant design and ultimately aligns with the decorative and expressive design trends of the past. Generally, the font gained prominence in that era through its use in various forms of pop culture.
A lot of people used it to create movie titles, television shows, and book covers. I think the expressive and artistic style of the font makes it suitable for capturing the mood and spirit of the 1970s.
6. Bodoni Bauer
This font is part of the Bodoni fonts which was well used in Italian printing. In fact, that’s what makes it unique and timeless.
The font was created by Heinrich Jost around the 1920s but has been constantly revived especially during the 1970s.
One of the reasons why this font is considered a vintage font is because of its geometric letterforms, which are characterized by high contrast between thick and thin strokes.
You can use this font in creating retro-themed materials like posters, invitations, and book covers.
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7. Gill Sans
A lot of fonts created between the 1920s and 1930s experienced a resurgence in popularity during the 1970s and Gill Sans is one of them.
First, it was designed by Eric Gill and is known for its clean, geometric, and humanist sans-serif letterforms.
Additionally, from my research, a lot of designers looking to create a sense of nostalgia or a classical look in their works rely on this font. They use it in different cultural contexts like signage, publications, and branding.
8. Avant Garde Gothic
Avant Garde Gothic was designed by Herb Lubalin and Tom Carnase in the late 1960s.
Interestingly, the font was originally created for the popular magazine in that era called the “Avant Garde.”
It then became popular following its usage in different design contexts including book covers, advertisements, and posters during the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s.
Another feature that makes the Avant Garde Gothic font timeless is because of its clean lines, geometric shapes, and bold letterforms.
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9. Kabel
Kabel is one of my go-to fonts on Canva if I want to give my designs a classic feel. I fancy its geometric letterforms, clean lines, and minimalistic design.
The font was part of the Art Deco movement that started in the 1920s and 1930s. It is known for its simplicity, elegance, and sense of modernity.
10. Futura
One thing to love about the Futura font is its simplicity and readability. This clean and minimalist design aligns with the modernist design principles that were popular during the 1970s.
The font has endured popularity ever since it was created in the early 20th century. It has remained timeless and versatile throughout popular decades.
I bet designers in the 70s often used this font to evoke the aesthetics of earlier decades including the mid-20th century and it all contributed to the popularity of the font in that era.
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11. ITC Bauhaus
This is another font you should turn to for your ageless and vintage designs. This typeface was inspired by the Bauhaus design movement which started in the early 20th century.
The movement was popular because of its emphasis on simplicity, functionality, and modernity.
It was mainly used during the 1970s to create a modern interpretation of the Bauhaus aesthetic which is why it is often associated with that era.
12. Akzidenz-Grotesk Condensed
Though the Akzidenz-Grotesk font dates back to the 19th century, it shares a lot of design characteristics with fonts popular in the 1970s. First, it’s part of the sans-serif typeface which in general became very popular in the 70s.
The condensed form of these fonts was used in that era for different design applications, especially in advertising and branding to create a sleek and modern look.
I also noticed that Akzidenz-Grotesk has a somewhat geometric feel with consistent strokes which was significant in 1970s typography.
Overall, I love that this font can be used to create a retro or vintage look while still feeling contemporary.
Explore the best alternatives to Helvetica & Helvetica Neue here.
13. Stencil
Stencil is such an interesting font and I’ll tell you why. First, the font mimics the appearance of stenciled lettering which gained prominence in the 1970s.
The fonts were often associated with military and counterculture movements of the 1960s and 1970s. They were used in anti-war posters, protest art, and other countercultural designs that were popular in that era.
14. Copperplate Gothic Bold
There are a lot of reasons why this font is considered a 1970s-style font on Canva. First is that it is a bold font and during that era, there was a trend toward using heavy, bold typefaces for a strong and impactful visual presence.
Additionally, Copperplate Gothic bold is an all-capital letter font and this kind of typography was frequently used in the 70s for headlines and logos. It was seen as a way to make a bold and clear statement.
Finally, there are no flowing curves in the font. The strokes are straight and angular which is in line with the era’s preference for simpler designs.
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15. Lucky Bones
Lucky Bones obviously draws inspiration from the design trends of the 1970s. I think it was intentionally designed to have a retro aesthetic depicting that era. Elements like bold lettering and unique shapes give it a sense of nostalgia.
Aside from that, the font’s bold and playful appearance aligns with the use of bold typefaces for posters, advertisements, and branding in the 70s as well.
Another intriguing feature is that the Lucky Bones font features serif which gives it a more traditional and timeless quality. You should use this font if you want to create an attention-grabbing design. It’s well-suited for headlines, posters, and logos.
16. Drukaatie Burti
If you want to incorporate a vintage look and feel into your modern projects, Drukaatie Burti is the font for you. One catchy feature of the font is its nostalgic yet playful look.
Additionally, it comes with bold and thick strokes that not only make it stand out when used in designs but also give your work a strong presence. You should go for this font if you want to create eye-catching designs.
Durkaatie Burti is under the sans-serif family which was the popular font used in the 1970s.
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17. Oregano
The Oregano font was designed by Rand Holub and released by URW Type Foundry. It was popular during the 1960s.
However, one of the similarities I noticed between this font and the 1970s fonts is that it features bold, flowing lines and curves just like the dynamic typography used in the 70s for posters, and album covers.
I like to call the Oregano font, “Bold and Groovy.” The font is super versatile and can be used for different purposes.
Best 70s Fonts on Canva (Paid Version)
1. Brush Script MT
At first look, you can see that this typeface resembles casual, handwritten brush lettering which aligns with some of the relaxed and informal styles of some fonts in the 70s. It is artistic and experimental.
I fancy the font’s flowing and varied letterforms. Aside from that, I think it conveys a sense of playfulness and expressiveness. You should aim for this font for your headlines and logos.
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2. Broadway
The first feature to notice on the Broadway font is that it is bold and captures attention. It also features decorative elements.
Additionally, the font’s distinctive letterforms with their dramatic and elongated serif are also similar to the 1970s fonts. Broadway’s timeless quality stands out as well evoking a sense of nostalgia.
Overall, this font will work well when designing theater marquees and posters.
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3. Lucida Calligraphy
This font was designed by Charles Bigelow and Kris Holmes and is generally known for its calligraphic and elegant appearance. This matches some of the artistic and expressive fonts used in the 1970s.
I think the font will fit decorative designs such as invitations and formal documents. It will surely bring a sense of sophistication to your work.
4. Rockwell
Designed in the 1930s by Monotype, Rockwell predates the 1970s. Many fonts from that era featured bold, clean lines and geometric forms.
Rockwell shares the same look. Its slab-serif feature creates a strong and impactful look.
You’ll appreciate the versatility of this font as it can be used in diverse design contexts. A lot of designers use it to evoke a vintage look in their modern projects.
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5. Vivaldi
You should go for this font if you want to add a touch of elegance to your designs. Vivaldi is undoubtedly fancy and looks like beautiful handwriting.
The letters are curvy and stylish with pretty swirls and twirls. In fact, it looks like each letter was carefully written by a talented calligrapher. The font is commonly used for classy invitations and certificates.
6. Park Avenue
Park Avenue font is another font that helps to transport your audience to the glamor of the past.
It has a stylish and classic appearance and will bring that vibe to your designs.
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7. Souvenir
If you’re working on a design project that aims to capture the vibrant and carefree spirit of the 1970s, this font will work well for you.
As you already know, that decade was known for its groovy and playful aesthetics. The Souvenir font totally reflects that.
One feature that stands out with this font is that it has small lines otherwise called “serifs” at the end of its letters. It also has a delightful and whimsical appearance which creates a friendly and approachable vibe.
8. Frutiger
Frutiger is one of these fonts crafted in the 1970s. It was designed by Swiss designer Adrian Frutiger in his attempt to address the need for a legible typeface that could be used in a variety of contexts.
I like that this font balances professionalism with approachability. That’s why it will fit design projects that demand clarity, readability, and a modern yet friendly appearance.
The letters are clean and straightforward making them highly readable in both digital and print media.
9. Didot LP
Didot LP is another elegant font you should consider for your design projects. First, it’s a high-contrast serif font, meaning that the difference between the thick and thin strokes is obvious. This adds a sense of drama and flair to your work.
You’ll need this font if you’re working on upscale branding, fashion magazines, and high-end invitations. Its tall and graceful letters convey a sense of grandeur and give your project a lasting impression.
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10. Trade Gothic Extended
As the name suggests, this font is extended in width, aligning it with some of the fonts used in the 1970s. They were extended and wide and used mostly in design projects like signage and advertisements.
Aside from that, the Trade Gothic Extended font has clean and simple lines which contribute to its modern and minimalist appearance.
Best 70s Fonts On Canva – Final Word
As you have seen, different fonts on Canva imitate the fonts used in the 1970s. While some of the fonts were created in that era, a lot of them existed before then but were resurrected to evoke the aesthetics of earlier decades.
Feel free to try all of them and see what vibe it adds to your designs.
Scott L. Macarthur is a marketing consultant and an online author. He is mostly engaged in providing his expertise to startups and SMBs. He is also an author on TheNextWeb.