Typography is a make or break in the way we design, communicate, and share our ideas with others.
© Patrick Nelson
What is typography, and how do you incorporate it into design?
Typography is the way in which we arrange letters and words to create an aesthetic and legible copy. Typography is the basis of design because there are many ways that the font we chose pushes a certain story or can be associated with certain things. So, how are ways we can break down typography to understand how it can completely change the ways of the story we want to portray?
Fonts and their Impact on Image
Typography is the way you want your reader to view your message. The choice of font can change the entirety of your messaging. A font that might be considered “loud or aggressive” should be chosen for a specific audience. On the other hand, fonts are seen as dainty or quiet and could be utilized in a calmer, more serene environment! Typography is one of the shakers and movers in design and public relations because the appearance of your messaging can be as harmful and helpful as the words you say!
Differentiating between different styles of fonts
Besides just basically studying a list of fonts and brushing up on your memorization skills, there are a couple of options to use while studying typography.
My favorite way to study typography was to play Type War. This game focused on choosing between options of font when displaying a letter. The two options might be “is this Verenda or Times New Roman?” and you choose between the two options. With enough repetition, I felt an actual difference in my ability to differentiate fonts. Some of them look very similar, so this one can be tricky!
Another great game I played was KernType. Now, while I liked this game… this one felt a lot more difficult for my learning style. With KernType, you adjust the space between letters to match the font they give you. The layout of this game was really interesting, and I got to learn a new term in the world of typography: Kern. Kern is the spacing of letters like so:
Ways choosing the wrong font can ruin the legitimacy of your brand
Having errors like these in logo designs can tarnish the hard work you have done for your brand and leave that idea in your audience’s head instead of your intended message. Several instances have been far worse than this, where it has been a scandal instead of just being a funny moment.
To see more typography fails that can inspire you before “choosing your type,” click here!