Typography

Typography is the art of arranging text to be legible, clear, and visually aligned with your brand. See additional pages on Font and Scale for more in-depth material.

Why type matters

If words communicate what you mean, your tone is how you say it, and typography is how you show it. Analogous to handwriting, typography can give context to what the message is, how important it is, and who the speaker is, or when neglected, render an entire page inaccessible.

How it impacts UX

1 Legibility

This is your north star when it comes to all typography decisions. Is it easy to read? To scan? Consider Fonts, Colors, Scale.

2 Alignment

Does spacing make it easier, or harder for your user to glean the message? Consider Reading order, voice and tone, and white space usage.

3 Context

Does your message make sense relative to what’s around it? Consider Hierarchy, and content arrangements.

Tips for designers

Are your users under stress? - If they’re driving, paying bills, etc, there is more at stake than casual experiences - so typography choices will have a bigger impact on your product
Function > Personal preference - A cool vibe can grab attention, but as soon as it distracts from your product you start losing users. Prioritize straightforwardness, and when in doubt, keep it simple.
If you’re not sure where to start, grab a pencil - You probably already know how to adjust for style, spacing, etc. when you write by hand.Note what works, and transcribe it digitally.