What is Typography?
Typography is more than just selecting fonts for a project. Typography is the art of arranging text to make it legible and visually appealing. It encompasses the entire process of designing and arranging text, including factors like font choice, spacing and alignment. Typography is one of the most critical elements that can make or break the impact of any visual composition, especially advertisements. In this blog post, we’ll explore what typography is, discuss engaging typography games, delve into the experiences it can create, and understand why it’s absolutely critical to the world of design.
Typography Games
When I was first learning about typography, I played a couple of games to sharpen my skills on different font styles and text spacing.
The first game I suggest playing is Type War. This is a fun and educational game that challenges your knowledge of fonts. It’s a “this or that” game where you must identify which font a letter belongs to. This game is challenging, so to excel in this game you’ll need to have a sharp eye for typography (pro tip: open up Microsoft word or Google Docs while playing to identify fonts accurately). This game is a great way to familiarize yourself with various typefaces and learn what makes each font unique.
Another game I recommend is Kern Type. This game is centered around kerning, which is the process of adjusting the space between individual characters to create visually pleasing and readable text. In this game, your mission is to achieve optimal spacing between letters to make the text look pleasant and legible. Your solution is then compared to that of a professional typographer, and you receive a score based on how close you come to perfection. Kern Type is a fun game that can teach you the art of precise letter spacing.
The Typography Experience
Typography can create a range of experiences for readers and viewers. Different fonts can evoke a sense of nostalgia, elegance, playfulness, etc. The arrangement of text can guide the reader’s eye smoothly through a text or disrupt their flow. It’s not just about making words look good, it’s about conveying a message effectively. Some people might have a font that reminds them of a specific time period of their life, a major life event, or an emotion, so being cautious of this is important when making typography choices.
Typography in Design
Typography is more than just aesthetics, it influences how people perceive and interact with content that a brand or person puts out. The key to making a good first impression is good typography because that is often the first thing people see when looking at a poster, sign, advertisement, etc. A well thought out design and layout will have typography that is legible, guides the viewers eyes to the key message/elements, and can evoke emotion from viewers. Typography is a powerful tool that designers use to communicate messages effectively.
To wrap it up, typography is a design element that deserves more recognition and appreciation. It’s a skill that everyone should practice to get good at, especially in the public relations industry. So, next time you’re designing, reading, or admiring something, take a moment to appreciate the typography.
