Typography—A Creative’s Guide to the Art of Arranging Text
At Root & Roam Integrated Marketing Agency, typography is a fundamental element of our work. It’s the art and technique of arranging type, or text, to create visually-appealing and easy-to-read designs. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the history of typography, its importance in web design, the benefits of hierarchy, and five basic typography rules that we follow.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Brief History of Typography
Typography and Fonts on the Internet
The Benefit of Hierarchy
Five Basic Typography Rules
Get the Most Out of Your Typography
A Brief History of Typography
The history of typography dates back to the invention of writing itself. As researchers have seen, the earliest typefaces were carved into stone or wood and later printed using movable type. With the invention of the printing press, typography changed the way books were produced, making them more accessible and affordable to the masses.
Typography and Fonts on the Internet
We never overlook the importance of typography in website design. Choosing the right font for a website can greatly affect its readability and usability. With the internet, we have access to a vast array of fonts and typefaces, but we must also consider the legibility of the font on different devices and screen sizes. At Root & Roam, we carefully select fonts that are visually appealing and easy to read on all devices.
The Benefit of Hierarchy
Hierarchy (elements that show importance in the design as a whole such as color, contrast, and alignment), is a critical element in typography, and it’s essential to consider when designing. It helps the reader navigate and understand the content. We use hierarchy to enhance the visual appeal of our designs and to improve the readability of the text. We achieve this by using different font sizes, weights, and colors to create a visual hierarchy.
Five Basic Typography Rules
The designers here at Root & Roam follow these five basic typography rules to create visually-appealing and easy-to-read designs:
1. Use readable fonts. It’s important to choose fonts that are easy to read, especially for long blocks of text.
2. Limit the number of fonts. To create a cohesive look, it’s best to stick to one or two fonts.
3. Use appropriate font sizes. Different font sizes create a visual hierarchy and improve readability.
4. Use appropriate font weights. Bold or italic fonts can be used to emphasize important text.
5. Use appropriate line spacing. Sufficient line spacing improves legibility and readability.
Get the Most Out of Your Typography
Typography is a critical element of our design process. By understanding the history of typography, its importance in web design, the benefits of hierarchy, and by following basic typography rules, we create visually-appealing and easy-to-read designs. Typography is an art, and we pride ourselves in our ability to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when displayed.