Typography, which is the art of arranging text, is one of the most critical aspects of website development. As a matter of fact, it would be safe to assume that your local web design company is able to use it well. What you may not know about typography is that it entails a process that must be handed with great care. In order to get the most out of this as possible, here are the essential do's and don'ts that you should be aware of.
DO make sure that your work is legible. While it's commendable for website design companies to be creative, it shouldn't come at the expense of legibility. Companies such as Lounge Lizard will tell you that, when it comes to typography, less is definitely more. What this means is that you should make it a point to create type that's legible. Failure to do so will reflect poorly on the sites that you're responsible for.
DON'T underestimate the size of text. As anyone that specializes in typography will tell you, different text sizes come together in order to create a sense of hierarchy. What this means is that each size will possess a different level of importance. For example, if basic-sized text is used for most copy, much larger text can serve as headlines and sub-headers alike. As you'll come to learn, text size serves more than simply cosmetic purposes.
DO match fonts with the companies they're meant for. To expand on this, let's say that you run a local comic book store. In this scenario, you'll want a font that speaks to your company and matches it as closely as possible. As a result, you wouldn't want to use a font that has a script-like appearance or features one too many curves. This can result in a lack of synergy between these elements, which is nothing short of unfortunate.
DON'T crowd your font. Lastly, if you're going to get the most out of typography, take advantage of the space that you have. After all, when you pack too much text into a single location, chances are that it can become relatively crowded, making it tough to read. With that said, you should space out your words better so that you won't have to concern yourself with this possibility. You'll be able to get more out of your typography this way.
DO make sure that your work is legible. While it's commendable for website design companies to be creative, it shouldn't come at the expense of legibility. Companies such as Lounge Lizard will tell you that, when it comes to typography, less is definitely more. What this means is that you should make it a point to create type that's legible. Failure to do so will reflect poorly on the sites that you're responsible for.
DON'T underestimate the size of text. As anyone that specializes in typography will tell you, different text sizes come together in order to create a sense of hierarchy. What this means is that each size will possess a different level of importance. For example, if basic-sized text is used for most copy, much larger text can serve as headlines and sub-headers alike. As you'll come to learn, text size serves more than simply cosmetic purposes.
DO match fonts with the companies they're meant for. To expand on this, let's say that you run a local comic book store. In this scenario, you'll want a font that speaks to your company and matches it as closely as possible. As a result, you wouldn't want to use a font that has a script-like appearance or features one too many curves. This can result in a lack of synergy between these elements, which is nothing short of unfortunate.
DON'T crowd your font. Lastly, if you're going to get the most out of typography, take advantage of the space that you have. After all, when you pack too much text into a single location, chances are that it can become relatively crowded, making it tough to read. With that said, you should space out your words better so that you won't have to concern yourself with this possibility. You'll be able to get more out of your typography this way.
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For more information about typography and web design, please visit Lounge Lizard.. Free reprint available from: Typography: The Do's And Don'ts Web Design Companies Must Follow.