Typography is only one of the coolest (and most important) things you can learn how to use as a designer! No big deal.
For real though- having evolved from handwriting, typography is absolutely everywhere and anywhere words exist. It’s in the words you see on websites, in books, on signs, and products, packaging, logos, graphics, etc.
But what is typography exactly?
At the very core, typography is the style, design, or appearance of text. This includes everything from font type and size to texture and spacing.
Typography touches every **aspect of a business from its style guides, to brand messaging, visual design, and marketing efforts. It’s the foundation of how we communicate with other human beings.
Imagine being able to influence a user’s emotions, or make their experience a million times better because your original typeface made it clearer or more accessible for them. That’s the power of typography!
And this is why, as a designer, it’s important for you to learn the craft of typography—to truly understand how to best use such an influential and key component of design.
So, if you’re ready to improve your typography skills and critique and create visually stunning, impactful work, it’s time to finally commit to learning typography.
The Different Elements of Typography
Let’s dive in, shall we? Learning typography design begins with a few basic elements: contrast, scale, repetition, and composition.
Contrast: Pairing opposites together in harmony. Like small text with large text, thick typefaces with thin typefaces, etc. How do you make sure you’re contrasting and not clashing? Learn the rules, even if only to break them better!
Scale: Not just “big and small,” scale is also about the way different elements of your design “play” together in space and how the design as a whole takes up space on the page.
Repetition: This is less about actually repeating yourself and more about using shared elements again and again to convey a cohesive message; similar colors, lines, shapes, and textures all working together.
Composition: This is about how all of the individual elements are thoughtfully designed- it’s how you use a combination of contrast, scale, and repetition to express the voice of your brand and to communicate in an effective and engaging way.
These elements make up the foundation you’ll build on to create a message with a serious impact.
And hey, congrats- if you’re reading this, you already have everything you need to take a typography course online and build on that foundation today!
Typography Design: Rules And Terms Every Designer Must Know
Things get a little more specific when we start talking about the different types of fonts and recognizing what makes something “serif typeface” vs. “typeface without serifs.”
So, if you’re having trouble discerning your “arm” from your “leg,” don’t worry! We’ve put together a list of typography terms that every designer should know:
Now that we’ve got you talking type, it’s time to put those terms into context. Check out this quick-start typography tutorial to help you learn how to rule this skill in no time at all.
How Typography Captures The Attention of Readers
Have you ever looked at a large, unbroken paragraph of text and immediately wanted to click away? There’s a good reason for that.
Novelty sparks a chemical reaction in the brain, essentially rewarding us for looking at and experiencing new things. This might be more evident in, say, unlocking a new secret level of your favorite video game, but it plays a large role in the way we intake information, too.
Well-designed typography can not only grab the attention of the reader, but it has the ability to impact how they feel the moment they see your work.
This is why knowing how to use text in space is vital. Is your content featured on the page in a way that makes sense while also being aesthetically pleasing and visually interesting? Does it encourage the eye to keep moving or does it allow the focus to fade?
