Testing Rain First for a Creative Portfolio Website
I was working on a redesign for a creative portfolio site last week, and I found myself stuck on the typography choices. The client wanted something playful yet professional—something that would stand out but still feel trustworthy. That’s when I came across Rain First, a cute and unique display font that immediately caught my eye.
First Impressions of Rain First
Rain First is a genuine display font with a whimsical personality. Its soft curves and slightly uneven strokes give it a hand-drawn charm that feels both modern and nostalgic. It has a light, airy vibe that works well for designs aimed at younger audiences or projects with a child-friendly theme. But what really stood out to me was how it could blend into more mature design contexts without feeling out of place.
The font carries a sense of warmth and approachability, which makes it ideal for branding that wants to communicate creativity and fun. It’s not too bold or over-the-top, so it can be used in various sizes and weights without losing its character.
Testing Rain First in a Hero Section
I decided to test Rain First in the hero section of the portfolio site. The original design had a sans-serif font for the headline, but I wanted to see if Rain First could bring a fresh energy to the page. I placed the font over a full-width image of a sketchbook, with a subtle gradient overlay to ensure readability.
On desktop, the font looked great—its unique shape made the headline pop against the background. On mobile, I had to adjust the size slightly to maintain legibility, but even at smaller sizes, the font retained its visual appeal. I noticed that the spacing between letters needed a slight tweak to avoid looking cramped, but that was an easy fix using the font’s built-in kerning options.
Using Rain First Across Different Sections
After testing the hero section, I moved on to other areas of the site. Rain First worked well as a heading for project sections, especially when paired with a clean sans-serif font like Helvetica Neue for body copy. This combination gave the site a balanced look—playful yet readable.
I also experimented with using Rain First in call-to-action buttons. While it wasn’t the best fit for small buttons due to its stylized nature, it worked beautifully for larger CTA areas with enough space to let the font breathe. For example, “View My Work” in Rain First felt inviting and personal, which helped encourage user engagement.
In the blog section, I used Rain First for post titles and section headers. It added a nice touch of personality without overwhelming the content. When paired with a serif font for the body text, it created a harmonious editorial feel that felt both professional and creative.
Readability and Brand Consistency
One thing I always consider when choosing a font is readability, especially on mobile devices. Rain First performed well in this regard, though I made sure to keep the line height and letter spacing optimized for smaller screens. I also tested it against dark and light backgrounds, and it maintained good contrast in both scenarios.
Another important factor was brand consistency. The client wanted their brand identity to feel cohesive across all platforms. Using Rain First consistently in headings and key visual elements helped reinforce their brand voice and make their digital presence more memorable.
Font Pairing and Practical Tips
When pairing Rain First with other fonts, I found that a simple sans-serif like Arial or Roboto worked best for body text. This kept the overall design clean while allowing Rain First to shine in the right places. For a more editorial or elegant look, a serif font like Georgia or Times New Roman complemented Rain First nicely.
I also checked the font’s available styles and file formats before finalizing the design. The font included several variations, which gave me flexibility in different design contexts. It was important to confirm that the font supported multilingual characters, as the client planned to expand their reach to international markets.
Before using any font on a live website, I always recommend checking the licensing terms, especially if you're working on client projects or commercial websites. Ensuring that Rain First is properly licensed for web use is crucial to avoid any legal issues down the line.
Final Thoughts on Rain First
Overall, Rain First proved to be a versatile and effective choice for the portfolio site. It brought a unique visual identity to the design while maintaining clarity and usability. Whether used for headlines, section titles, or decorative accents, it added a touch of personality that helped elevate the overall brand experience.
If you're looking for a display font that can add charm to your website without sacrificing professionalism, Rain First is definitely worth considering. Just remember to test it thoroughly across different devices and layouts to ensure it works well in every context.
