Typography
Typography refers to arranging letters and words to make them readable and aesthetically pleasing. It's described as designing fonts and typefaces and is considered art. However, in UX design, typography is supposed to enhance the product's usability and accessibility.
Typography, much like other elements of style, significantly affects digital design. It can make the difference between a user reading content and deciphering it. Well-chosen fonts and their sizes and spacing between the lines can impact how easily the user consumes content. It also leads to improved user experience as users can take advantage of the clear information hierarchy to navigate the digital product. Those same factors increase accessibility. If the product has appropriate contrast levels, proper font size and line spacing, people who have visual impairments can also access it, making the product accessible to all users.
Since typography is part of visual design, one of its unquestionable benefits is making digital products aesthetically pleasing. Well-designed typography can make all the difference not only in the visual appeal of the website but also in branding. Unique font or custom typeface can be a part of a brand's visual identity and become yet another element that distinguishes the brand in the crowded online market.
Typography also has its dos and don'ts. Firstly, any fonts you choose should be easy to read. For example, sans serif fonts (e.g. Arial or Helvetica) are known to be simple and legible. You should also use typography to create a visual hierarchy for the information – experiment with different font sizes, weights, and styles and assign them to the content based on importance. And don't forget to pay attention to contrast, as it is one of the main factors in making content legible.
With all those dos come some don'ts. For one, you shouldn't use too many fonts as it may be distracting and confusing for the user. Select two or a maximum of three fonts that complement each other and stick to them throughout the design. Another thing you shouldn't do is ignore accessibility. Make sure your typography uses colours and contrast to make it more legible for people with disabilities. And don't forget that spacing between lines and paragraphs can make all the difference in reading or scanning content.
Typography is essential in design as it affects how users view and interact with digital products. It can contribute to creating a brand's visual identity, building an information hierarchy, and enhancing content readability and accessibility for users.
