Typography is a very powerful design element. Whenever we have a typographic system in place, we can use it to structure content, communicate ideas and even enhance meaning. However, employing it in a way that masters that delicate balance between being unobtrusive (catering for a pleasant reading experience) and engaging enough (keeping the reader’s interest on a page) can be quite a challenge.
With the help of this eBook, you can learn how to train and sharpen your eyes to recognize specific typographic details which will be sure to guide you in your own projects and make it easier for you to make design decisions. After an initial stroll through type terminology and classification, this eBook reflects on the quality of fonts (including web font providers, of course) and explores typographic design patterns as well as current practices. These practical considerations and a plethora of real-world examples are bound to be a valuable companion throughout your adventures when designing with type.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Understanding The Difference Between Type And Lettering
by Joseph Alessio - Making Sense Of Type Classification (Part 1)
by Joseph Alessio - Making Sense Of Type Classification (Part 2)
by Joseph Alessio - A Critical Approach To Typefaces
by David Březina - Taking A Second Look At Free Fonts
by Jeremiah Shoaf - Dear Web Font Providers
by Laura Franz - Typographic Design Patterns And Current Practices (2013 Edition)
by Jan Constantin - Creating Exciting And Unusual Visual Hierarchies
by Jessica Glaser and Carolyn Knight - Type Makes A Difference: An Exploration Of Type-Focused Websites
by Jessica Glaser
Technical Information
- Formats: PDF, EPUB, Kindle (DRM-free)
- Pages: 141
- Language: English
- Released: June 2014
- Publisher: Smashing Magazine GmbH
- ISBN (PDF): 978-3-94454076-4
- ISBN (EPUB): 978-3-94454077-1
- ISBN (KINDLE): 978-3-94454078-8
Excerpt From Chapter 1
Understanding The Difference Between Type And Lettering — by
Coming out of the grunge, graffiti and David Carson era through the ’90s, there has been a major resurgence of interest in typography. We have seen a number of designers and artists make their careers out of designing type or custom lettering, and it has become common to list typography among our skills and disciplines.
Unfortunately, as with any popularity surge, there have come with it a lot of misunderstandings of some of the terms and concepts that we use. This chapter will help you gain a clearer understanding of what typography is and isn’t, and why.
Excerpt From Chapter 8
Creating Exciting And Unusual Visual Hierarchies — by
Layout, for both print and screen, is one of the most important aspects of graphic design. Designs that extend across multiple pages or screens, whether containing large or small amounts of type, must be carefully controlled in a way that is enticing and is easy for all to access. Careful control of visual hierarchy is a key aspect of the design decisions we have to consider.
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