APGR72 Week 4 Lecture: Typography and Readability

Ah! Typography... one of my favorite areas of graphic design. This week we'll explore various aspects of designing with type including: readability and legibility, selecting typefaces and web typography issues. A brief lecture on typography is hardly adequate to cover the complexities and subtleties of working with type. However, I hope by the end of this week you'll have a better sense of how to handle and use type.

Firstly, what is typography and why is it so important?

What is Typography?
Essentially, typography is the science and art of communicating through type. It's a science because there are many rules about how to format and handle type to enhance readability. It's an art because type can be used as a powerful communicator of mood and meaning.

Why is Typography so important?
Take a moment to consider how crucial reading is to print and web communication. Without content, most print and web pages would be pointless. So, if you handle the typography of the content well, you communicate well. Conversely, if you handle the typography of the content poorly, you impede communication.

And now an HTML slide show about readability, legibility, web typography and creative type design.

Readability and Typography Slide Show