You probably know the response to the term, “what is typography in web design.” But what makes typography so important? You’ll find out from this post.
Typography is one of the most underrated topics in web design. Yet, it remains one of the most deliberated during the web design process. Web designers must choose a good topography for readability and to ensure they translate a brand’s image.
Here, our goal is to define typography and its importance and share other must-know tips. So, keep reading to get more details.
What Is Typography?
Typography implies arranging texts and letters to make them legible and visually appealing to readers.
The history of typography goes as far back as the 11th century. Then, it was more of a specialized craft, popularly used in books, magazines, and later public works.
Typography deals with fonts’ appearance, structure, and size. It breathes life into text or makes texts come alive.
The Gutenberg Bible remains the birthplace of typography in the West. The first example of typography can be traced there.
A Handy Tip: Blackletter, also called Gothic Minuscule, Gothic Script, or Textura, was used in Europe from 1150 to the 17th century. This is the typography you’ll find in the Gutenberg Bible.
The Importance of Topography
Topography involves choosing the right fonts for a website, but there is more. It is a vital component of user-interface design.
Typography helps to provide a strong visual hierarchy for a website. It maintains a site’s balance and sets the product’s tone.
Another reason topography is important is the role it plays in user experience and readability. Used properly, topography can optimize readability and improve user experience.
Let’s dive in and share more information on how important topography is and why professional web designers pay attention to it.
1: Topography can influence visitors’ decision-making:
A study has revealed that 95% of negative feedback websites receive is design-related. Users’ ability to understand the message in the text displayed on your website will affect their decision-making.
You can easily convince a reader or visitor that understands your text and message. But, the reverse is the case for a user that doesn’t understand.
A good tip is to utilize eye-catching and vibrant fonts since they’re more persuasive. In addition, such fonts will inspire your visitors to make a positive decision toward your business.
2: Topography enhances brand image:
One thing a good topography can do for your business is enhance its credibility. Most people may associate your brand with the typeface on your website, though consistency in your choice of typography will play a vital role in this.
A handy tip is to be consistent and unique when deciding the typeface to feature on your website. Remember that a good typeface can help you build trust with your user and grow your user base. It can take your business to the next level.
3: Keeps visitors hooked and improves dwell time:
A higher dwell time is possible when you choose the right topography and stay consistent. Typography can influence how much time a user spends on your website.
Your fonts should be visually appealing and invoke visitors’ attention. They should encourage your visitors to spend more time on your website.
A Handy Tip: Dwell time refers to the time a Google searcher spends on a website before returning to the search engine result page. A higher dwell time shows Google that your website and its content are high-quality. And as you know, Google wants the best website and content on the first page.
How To Improve Readability of Digital Texts
Most people don’t spend a few seconds reading texts word for word. Many skim through and end up not grabbing much.
Sometimes, some may struggle to connect ideas after skimming through your texts. It happens most of the time.
For visitors who may likely skim, readability would be essential. So, choose a font that’s capable of improving readability. Note that when you improve readability, you automatically improve user experience (UX). Google appreciates websites with better UX.
Below are steps to enhance digital texts’ readability and make your website pop.
1: Optimize with the different platforms in mind:
For desktop, font size should be 16-20pt, and 12-16pt for mobile devices. The reason is desktops or computers have bigger screens. Thus, people can even read what’s on the page of your website via desktop from a distance.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for mobile devices. But the bottom line is your text should be readable across various devices, from mobile to desktop.
A Handy Tip: You can work with relative font sizes (em) to achieve more responsive designs than absolute font sizes (pixels). The major aim is to ensure your fonts are readable across various devices. So, optimize your fonts for each platform.
2: Pick a legible font and consider optimizing for improved readability:
Legibility refers to the quality of a text being clear enough to read. It is also the typeface design’s features.
What are these features? It refers to the characteristics of the letters, such as width and height, also called glyphs. Shape (serifs) and weight (extra light, bold and normal) are also part of the characteristics.
Choose highly legible fonts. Why? It’s because such characters are visible. Readers don’t need cognitive work or strain their eyes to grab the message.
On the other hand, less legible fonts decrease readability. These fonts cause readers to do more cognitive work or strain their eyes.
A Handy Tip: Choose a font with wide spacing to maximize legibility. In other words, there should be spaces between the letters. In addition, body text weight shouldn’t be light or ultra-light. Avoid such fonts. You can use other font weights except them.
Font type should be san serifs, such as Georgia and Verdana. Readability improves with this font type. Like san serif, serif was originally developed to improve text legibility. However, San serif is doing a better job.
How do you maximize readability in your body paragraph? Do the following.
Firstly, choose highly contrasting colors between the text and background. In addition, the font size should be moderate. Don’t go overboard.
Avoid using caps on all the characters. Doing so will make it difficult for your readers to differentiate the characters. Some readers would feel you’re shouting at them when you use all caps.
3: Make your site accessible to everyone:
Most of your visitors might have special needs. So, make your website accessible to everyone. Visitors with a neurodivergent condition or vision issue might visit your website. It would be best if you considered them when building your website.
The first tip is to avoid color combinations. Why? People with vision issues might struggle to distinguish such colors. For instance, avoid colors like red and green. Some people struggle to distinguish this color.
Another thing to consider is the fonts. Don’t use more than three fonts. Firstly, it will confuse your readers, and secondly, it will impact responsiveness. How? Mobile devices need to adjust each font, which will take a while.
How Many Fonts Should You Use?
Don’t use more than 3 fonts on your website. The reason is simple. If you do, you’ll have a cluttered website. In addition, people will find it difficult to read and understand your message, and your call to action will be hidden.
You can use italics and bold. This helps to add some variations to your font too.
Resources To Enable You Pick The Proper Typography
Choosing good typography is very important. With such, you can convey your brand message and connect to your audience emotionally.
So, what resources can enable you to pick a good typography?
- FontSquirrel: This is one of the places to get a wide range of good fonts. It’s called FontSquirrel and lives up to its name. You can download FontSquirrel. Or, search for your desired font and grab it. You can use search terms like what’s new, “elegant,” or “hot” to find a suitable font.
- Visme: This is where you’ll find various images that combine different fonts.
- Google Fonts: Google is another place you can find great fonts. You can find fonts like serif, and san serif, including handwriting fonts. You can even pick fonts and view them paired together.
Conclusion
What is typography in web design? It refers to arranging letters and texts in a copy to make them legible and visually appealing to readers.
Choosing good typography can make your messages captivating and easy to understand. It makes a huge difference in your website texts’ readability.
We shared some tips to help you choose good typography. One is to ensure you use at most three fonts. And consider the various platforms when choosing fonts.
