Typography Fundamentals Every Designer Should Know

Introduction

Typography is more than just choosing fonts—it's about creating clear, readable, and visually appealing text that enhances your design's message and user experience.

Typeface Selection

Choose typefaces that align with your design goals:

• Serif fonts: Traditional, trustworthy, formal
• Sans-serif fonts: Modern, clean, approachable
• Display fonts: Creative, attention-grabbing, decorative
• Monospace fonts: Technical, code-like, structured

Hierarchy and Scale

Create clear visual hierarchy through typography:

• Use size to indicate importance
• Establish consistent scale relationships
• Limit your typeface choices to 2-3 per project
• Use weight and style variations for emphasis

Readability and Legibility

Ensure your text is easy to read:

• Choose appropriate line lengths (45-75 characters)
• Set comfortable line spacing (1.4-1.6 for body text)
• Ensure sufficient contrast with backgrounds
• Consider reading distance and device context

Conclusion

Good typography is invisible—it helps readers focus on the content rather than the presentation. By mastering these fundamentals, you'll create designs that are both beautiful and functional.