Totally Tubular Font: A Retro Touch for Your Brand
As a small business owner, I've spent countless hours refining the visual elements of my brand. From packaging to social media, every detail matters when it comes to making a lasting impression. Recently, I was tasked with updating our café’s menu design and thought I’d explore some new display fonts that could elevate our look without feeling too trendy or gimmicky. That’s when I discovered Totally Tubular, a hand-drawn retro typeface that immediately caught my eye.
Totally Tubular for Café Menus and Retro Branding
Totally Tubular is not just another font—it’s a personality. Its hand-drawn nature gives it a warm, nostalgic feel, while its retro charm makes it perfect for businesses aiming to stand out in a sea of minimalist designs. As a Display font, it shines brightest in large formats like headlines and logos where you want something bold and expressive. When I first used it on our café menu, I was surprised by how much more inviting and approachable the layout became. It felt playful yet professional, which is exactly what we were looking for.
I paired it with a clean sans serif font for the supporting text, and the contrast worked wonders. The body copy remained easy to read, while Totally Tubular added character to headings and section titles. This subtle balance helped customers quickly scan the menu while still enjoying the visual storytelling of the font.
Totally Tubular in Product Labels and Skincare Packaging
A few weeks later, I had the chance to test Totally Tubular with a skincare line I was helping rebrand. The client wanted their product labels to feel artisanal and handcrafted—something that would appeal to eco-conscious consumers. Since this is a hand-drawn retro font, it naturally fits into such a niche. Using it on jar labels and ingredient lists gave the products a friendly, authentic vibe that resonated with their target audience.
One thing I appreciated was the included outline version. It allowed me to create layered label designs where the main title popped against a background, while the supporting details stayed clear and legible. Typography plays a huge role in brand perception, and using a creative font like Totally Tubular made these labels feel more intentional and memorable.
Readability Tips for Small Business Use
While Totally Tubular is visually appealing, it’s important to note that it works best in larger sizes. For smaller text like pricing or ingredients, I recommend using it sparingly or reserving it for decorative accents. Here are a few quick readability tips:
- Use it for headlines, titles, and logo text at least 24pt and above for print.
- Avoid using it in long paragraphs or fine print—save it for impact.
- Test it on mobile screens if using it for website banners or Instagram templates. Sometimes the retro flair can get lost at smaller sizes.
Totally Tubular for Handmade Product Mockups and Brand Identity
When working with handmade sellers, one of the biggest challenges is creating a cohesive brand identity that feels personal and unique. Totally Tubular helps bridge that gap. It’s versatile enough to be used across various materials—stickers, tags, thank-you cards, and even digital ads—while maintaining a consistent visual language. The hand-drawn style adds a human touch, which is especially valuable for brands selling candles, soaps, or boutique items where authenticity is key.
For instance, when designing gift tags for a candle seller, I used Totally Tubular for the greeting and product name. The outline version was great for separating the text from busy backgrounds, and the overall result was a tag that felt both fun and trustworthy. Customers didn’t just see a product—they saw a story behind it.
Font Pairing Ideas for Commercial Projects
Pairing Totally Tubular with other fonts is an art form, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Since it's a Display font, it pairs well with:
- Clean Sans Serif Fonts: These provide a modern counterbalance and keep your design from feeling too cluttered.
- Elegant Serif Fonts: If your brand leans toward sophistication, a serif font can complement the retro energy of Totally Tubular nicely.
- Script or Handwritten Fonts: For a more artistic or personalized look, especially in thank-you cards or branding for a cozy boutique.
I’ve found that keeping the pairing simple—just two or three fonts total—makes your brand more recognizable. Totally Tubular is a great anchor for your typographic choices because it has strong character without being over-the-top.
Totally Tubular for Online Shop Banners and Social Media Graphics
Another recent project involved redesigning an online shop banner for a vintage-inspired clothing brand. They needed something eye-catching that would work well on desktop and mobile. Totally Tubular was a perfect fit for the headline, especially since they also had a secondary use for promotional tags and Instagram posts. The versatility of this font across different platforms and file formats (which I always check before finalizing any design) made the process smooth and efficient.
The retro aesthetic of Totally Tubular helped the shop feel more curated and nostalgic, which aligned perfectly with the brand’s story. On thumbnails and banners, it stood out without overwhelming the viewer. And let’s be honest—first impressions matter. A well-chosen font can make all the difference between someone scrolling past and stopping to learn more.
Why Choose Totally Tubular Over Other Display Fonts?
There are thousands of fonts available, but what sets Totally Tubular apart is its blend of playfulness and professionalism. It’s not a novelty font that only works once. Instead, it has a timeless quality that makes it suitable for multiple uses within a single brand. Whether you’re printing packaging or designing digital assets, this typeface brings a level of polish that many free or generic Fonts simply don’t offer.
It’s also worth noting that as a commercial font, Totally Tubular allows for full flexibility in real-world applications—from product packaging to editorial design. Just make sure to review the licensing terms if you plan to use it in client projects or sell physical goods with it printed on them.
Totally Tubular in Logo Design and Brand Assets
Logo design is one area where typography really comes to life. I recently designed a logo for a local bakery using Totally Tubular, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The hand-drawn nature of the font gave the bakery a whimsical, family-friendly feel that matched their brand perfectly. Even though it’s a Display font, it managed to convey warmth and reliability—two traits that are essential for building customer trust.
Using it in combination with a simple monochrome palette made the logo pop, and it translated beautifully onto signage, boxes, and even the bakery’s Instagram Stories. The outline version was particularly useful for ensuring legibility against colorful or textured backgrounds. It’s a reminder that a good font isn’t just about looks—it’s about usability too.
If you're considering a font for your next branding project, I highly recommend giving Totally Tubular a try. It’s one of those rare Fonts that manages to feel both fun and functional. Whether you're in the food industry, beauty sector, or running a boutique, this typeface has the potential to become a core part of your visual identity.
