Stay Kool: A Casual Display Font for Trendy Branding
Stay Kool on a Café Logo Concept
There’s something about opening a blank brand board and seeing the first words take shape that feels like magic. I recently tested Stay Kool, a fun, casual and relaxed display font, on a logo concept for a new café. The moment I applied it to the name “Brew Haven,” the mood shifted. It felt warm, approachable, and just right for a spot where people come to relax with good coffee and better company.
Stay Kool has a soft, hand-drawn quality that mimics the flow of a brush pen. This makes it perfect for display fonts that need to feel personal and not overly polished. When paired with a minimalist sans serif for supporting text, the contrast was balanced and professional without losing that trendy edge.
Stay Kool in Packaging Mockups and Social Media Layouts
Next up, I tried Stay Kool on packaging mockups for a skincare product line. The label design called for something playful yet elegant. Stay Kool delivered—its gentle curves and open counters gave the product a friendly, modern look that appealed to younger audiences. It worked especially well on product tags and small labels, where readability is key but style still matters.
On social media layouts, Stay Kool stood out as a headline font. Whether it was a promotional post for a seasonal release or an Instagram caption highlighting a new launch, the font added a touch of personality. Its informal tone made the content feel more relatable, which helped boost engagement with the target demographic.
I also used Stay Kool in a website header for a creative studio identity. It didn’t overpower the design but instead became a focal point that guided the viewer’s eye naturally. The font’s relaxed nature aligned perfectly with the brand’s vibe—creative, laid-back, and full of energy.
Stay Kool for Business Cards and Website Headers
When designing business cards for a local bakery, I found Stay Kool to be a great fit. The card needed to be memorable but not too loud. Stay Kool had just the right amount of character—it was legible enough for names and contact info but still fun enough to stand out in a stack of cards.
On a website header, Stay Kool performed well when used sparingly. It was ideal for short phrases like “Welcome to Our Bakery” or “Fresh Baked Daily.” However, I noticed that using it for long paragraphs or body text could reduce readability. That’s something to keep in mind if you're considering Stay Kool for anything beyond headlines or accents.
The font also worked nicely with other Fonts in a typography system. Pairing it with a clean sans serif like Montserrat or a classic serif like Playfair Display created a nice balance between modern and traditional. For a more cohesive look, I even experimented with using a lighter weight of Stay Kool for subheadings while keeping the main title bold and attention-grabbing.
Stay Kool for Brand Identity and Creative Studio Projects
In a branding project for a handmade shop, Stay Kool became a cornerstone of the visual identity. It appeared on everything from the logo to the packaging, and even in the shop’s Instagram feed. The font’s casual, relaxed style matched the brand’s ethos perfectly—handmade, authentic, and full of charm.
For a creative studio identity, I used Stay Kool in combination with a few other display fonts to create a layered effect. This allowed the brand to have a unique voice without being overwhelming. It also helped maintain consistency across different platforms, from printed materials to digital assets.
One thing to note is that Stay Kool is best suited for projects that lean into informality and trendiness. It may not be the best choice for formal corporate branding or anything requiring high readability at small sizes. But for logos, headers, and short-form content, it shines.
If you’re considering using Stay Kool in client work, make sure to test it thoroughly. Try it on various backgrounds, sizes, and in different contexts to see how it performs. Also, always check the commercial font licensing before finalizing any design that will be used for print-on-demand products, templates, or websites.
