Do As You Wish: A Handwritten Font for Editorial Design
I remember the exact moment I realized my blog’s visual identity needed a shift. It wasn’t a technical issue or a traffic drop; it was a feeling of dissonance. The content was warm, personal, and conversational, yet the typography felt stiff and overly corporate. I was scrolling through design assets looking for something that could bridge the gap between professional structure and human touch. That search led me to Do As You Wish, a bold handwritten font from Script Amp that immediately changed how I approached editorial layout.
In the world of modern typography, finding a script font that doesn’t sacrifice readability for style is a rare find. Many decorative typefaces demand too much attention, forcing readers to decode letters rather than absorb ideas. Do As You Wish, however, strikes a delicate balance. It is casual enough to feel inviting but structured enough to maintain clarity. This review explores how this typeface can elevate your publications, from digital newsletters to printed workbooks, by supporting both mood and function.
The Character and Mood of Do As You Wish
At first glance, Do As You Wish presents itself as a confident, casual script. It carries the energy of a marker on paper but with the precision of a digital tool. The strokes are fluid, yet the letterforms remain distinct and legible. This "down-to-earth" charm is its strongest asset. In editorial design, where the goal is often to make complex information feel accessible, a font that feels approachable is invaluable.
The rhythm of the letters creates a natural flow. Unlike some handwritten fonts that vary wildly in height or slant, creating visual noise, Do As You Wish maintains a consistent baseline and x-height. This consistency is crucial for publication identity. When you use a typeface that feels cohesive, your content looks more polished and trustworthy. The font exudes a sense of relaxed authority—perfect for lifestyle brands, creative agencies, or independent publishers who want to appear friendly without being unprofessional.
Visually, it serves as a premium display font. It has presence. When set in large sizes, it commands attention without shouting. The ink traps and connections between letters are designed to hold up well at various scales, making it versatile for everything from small social media graphics to large magazine covers. It feels like a creative font that respects the reader’s time by being easy on the eyes.
Real-World Applications in Content Layouts
To truly understand the utility of Do As You Wish, it helps to look at how it performs in real publishing scenarios. I tested this typeface across several formats, ranging from digital articles to downloadable PDFs. Here is how it handled different editorial needs:
- Blog Headers and Article Titles: Replacing a standard sans serif headline with Do As You Wish instantly added personality to my posts. It turned generic titles into featured stories. Because it is a bold weight, it stands out against white backgrounds effectively, guiding the reader’s eye down the page.
- Pull Quotes and Callouts: One of the best uses for a script font is breaking up dense text. Using Do As You Wish for pull quotes adds a visual pause. It signals to the reader that this is a key takeaway. The handwritten style mimics the act of underlining or emphasizing a point by hand, which subconsciously increases engagement.
- Ebook Covers and Chapter Openers: For a recipe ebook I redesigned, Do As You Wish served as the perfect title treatment. It felt homemade yet curated, matching the theme of comfort food. Similarly, using it for chapter openers created a nice contrast with the body text, marking transitions clearly.
- Newsletter Graphics: In email marketing, subject lines and header images compete for attention. A clean, bold script like this cuts through the clutter. It works exceptionally well for seasonal greetings or promotional banners where a touch of whimsy is desired.
- Printable Planners and Worksheets: When designing digital products like coaching workbooks, the aesthetic matters. Do As You Wish adds a layer of sophistication to functional documents. It makes the user feel like they are engaging with a high-quality brand rather than a generic template.
Readability and Visual Hierarchy
While Do As You Wish is expressive, it is not a frivolous choice. Its design prioritizes legibility, which is essential for any serious publication. However, like all display fonts, it has limits. It is not intended for long-form body copy. Trying to read paragraphs of text in a handwritten script causes eye strain and slows down comprehension. Instead, use it to establish visual hierarchy.
Effective editorial design relies on contrast. By pairing Do As You Wish with a highly readable serif font for body text, you create a dynamic relationship between decoration and information. The serif anchors the content, providing stability, while the script provides flair. Alternatively, pairing it with a clean sans serif font works well for captions, navigation menus, or metadata, ensuring that functional text remains crisp and clear.
When considering mobile layouts, keep in mind that scripts can sometimes lose detail on smaller screens. Test your headings at various widths. Do As You Wish holds up well due to its bold nature, but ensure there is sufficient line spacing (leading) so the descenders and ascenders do not collide. This attention to spacing enhances the overall reading experience and supports accessibility standards.
Practical Considerations for Designers
Before integrating Do As You Wish into your projects, it is wise to review the full font package. Check for included styles, alternates, and ligatures. These features allow for customization, enabling you to tweak the look of specific words to better fit your layout. Multilingual support is also a key factor if your audience is global; verify character sets to ensure accents and special symbols render correctly.
Commercial licensing is another critical step. If you are using this font for client publications, paid newsletters, or digital downloads, ensure your license covers these use cases. Proper licensing protects your brand identity and ensures you are respecting the creator’s rights. Script Amp typically provides clear guidelines, but always double-check before deploying the font in a commercial product.
Ultimately, Do As You Wish is more than just a typeface; it is a tool for setting tone. It supports the emotional resonance of your content while maintaining structural integrity. Whether you are redesigning a website, creating a new brand identity, or simply sprucing up a blog post, this font offers a reliable way to inject warmth and professionalism into your work. It proves that you don’t have to choose between style and substance—you can have both.
