DesignAlso called: "type design", "font usage"
Typography shapes how text communicates meaning and tone in design.
Key elements
- Typeface: The design of letters (Arial, Times, Helvetica).
- Font: Specific size/weight/style (Arial Bold 14pt).
- Hierarchy: Size/weight differences show importance.
- Spacing: Leading (line height), tracking (letter spacing), kerning.
Classifications
- Serif: Traditional, readable (Times, Georgia).
- Sans-serif: Modern, clean (Arial, Helvetica).
- Monospace: Fixed-width (Courier, Consolas).
- Display: Decorative, attention-grabbing.
Best practices
- Limit to 2-3 typefaces per design.
- Ensure sufficient contrast for readability.
- Use appropriate line length (45-75 characters).
- Maintain consistent hierarchy.
- Consider accessibility (minimum 16px for body text).
Web typography
- Web fonts (@font-face, Google Fonts).
- Fallback font stacks.
- Variable fonts for responsive design.
- Performance considerations (FOUT/FOIT).