
20 Oct The Effect of Typography on User-Experience
Typography is the style and appearance of printed matter and it affects our everyday lives whether we like it or not. We need to ensure that it is working for us and not against us but that all depends on how we implement it. Typography has two primary goals, firstly to convey information and secondly to add further context to the information.
A typeface is a set of one or more fonts that share common design features. They have been misused in the past and are so much more than just stylized alphabets, they have personalities that come across immediately and inform the viewer through different elements such as words, images, colours and composition. These elements can aid in creating an effective website and engaging web pages. The typeface used will make a critical first impression about the brand, it enhances the character of the site and sets the tone for the user. Before the viewer reads the content, the typeface should offer more important clues to attract further reading.
There needs to be a balance between the visual and the verbal aspect of the design. Often designers will explore the visual aspect of typography to a greater extent than the verbal, leaving an unequal relationship between the two.
The use of typeface and typography has the ability to shape the perception and determine the engagement of your web users. It can further affect your conversion rate and plays a major role in effective content delivery to your visitors and determines the user experience. Your goal should always be to create a positive, easy reading and engaging user-experience. Brands should abandon the obsession with “pretty” content and instead focus on the skilful use of typography, as it is a powerful tool which can do wonders for your website and overall business.