Typography 101
As a designer, typography is key to the success of your design. The font you choose will affect how people perceive your brand and what they think about it. There are many different typographical styles and fonts that can be used in designs, but some work better than others for specific purposes. In this article we will discuss typography 101: the basics on serif and sans serif fonts, their histories, and when they're most appropriate to use in design projects.
This content would be perfect for anyone who is looking to learn more about typography or has an interest in typographic styling!
What is Typography
Typography is a word used to describe the style, appearance and structuring of text. It's important in web design because typography styling can say a lot more about your brand than you realize. The structure and layout of font can drastically affect how people perceive your company or personal website. Fonts that are too similar will become hard for people to read, while fonts that are too different will be hard for people to connect with your brand.
The History of Typography
Typography has been around since the Ancient Greeks and Romans used it in their written works. They would draw symbols called "puncta" into their manuscripts before writing words or sentences. The typographic marks would help to organize the text and indicated different parts of speech.
The typography we use today is based on Roman typography, which was developed in the fifteenth century. The first printed books were created using this typeface, which became known as blackletter or Gothic typeface. This style was popular until the eighteenth century when it started to be replaced with typography that was more readable and easier to work with.
Why is Typography Important for Brands
The typography you choose can say a lot more about your brand than you realize. Brands use typographic styles that fit their specific branding guidelines and stick to those rules when creating new pieces of content or designing websites. If brands didn't have typographical restrictions, it would be hard for consumers to connect with them!
Typography Psychology: Font Personalities
The typography you choose can also affect how people perceive your brand. Serif fonts are seen as more traditional and conservative, while sans serif fonts are seen as modern and progressive. Different font styles can be used to evoke different emotions in people; for example, a script font might make people feel romantic or nostalgic, while a bold font could make people feel powerful or in charge. Serif fonts are generally seen as more formal and serious, while sans serif typography is usually used for casual brands like restaurants or retail shops.
5 Typography Terms You Need to Know
There are a few typography terms that you should know as a designer.
"X height." This refers to the height of lower case letters, and it's an important factor when choosing which font or typographical style would be best for your brand. Typefaces with high x-heights tend to have more personality than those with low x-heights.
Leading is the space between lines of text, and it's important to make sure there is enough leading for your text to be easily legible.
Tracking is the spacing between all letters in a word or sentence.
Kerning is the adjustment of letter spacing to create a more visually appealing result.
Weight is the thickness of a typographical font. Fonts come in different weights, and choosing between them can be important to achieve balance within your design project.
Let's Talk!
If you feel like you might want to revisit your brand's font selections or if you are needing typographical direction, contact me today. We can get started on creating your brand's typographic consistency.