Some definitions · Typographic North

Kris Hus

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Oct 15 • 📣 Announcements

Some definitions

Hello, explorers!

I've added a page to the introductory course in the classroom, where I try to define what we're building in this group.

It goes something like this:

Typography is the art and craft of arranging text so that it reads well.

It's part functionality and part aesthetics. When you read a text, you don't want any unnecessary friction; you want to move through the text with your eyes quickly and get the message. Whether it's a sign at the airport directing you towards your gate, or a classical novel you're reading.

When it works well, you don't notice it. It's invisible. But when you turn the page and can't find out where to read next, something is missing. When you have to squint your eyes to read the back of the bottle, the text is too small, or too tight, or the colours lack contrast.

Typefaces can also express emotions and style. There's a stark contrast between a typical wedding invitation and a typical subway billboard.

Typography encompasses all the small details on the page, on the screen, or on a sign. Text is everywhere, and a typographer makes sure it's readable and feels right.

The content in this group is related to all these things, and more. We look at typefaces, line spacing, kerning, the contrast between the headings and the body text, where to put page numbers and how to format a good bullet list.

Sometimes we go overboard and move into graphic design, or web design, or photography, illustration and film editing. But the common denominator is the text.

What we discuss here can be useful for anyone who designs with text. Or writes. And that is almost everyone.

Another central part of the content here will be tackling long-form publications. Books, magazines, long websites, multi-page documents. These have another dimension to them when it comes to text flow. Not only are we looking at the text on one side of a business card, but we’re thinking about how the text moves from page to page. When we insert a photo on one page, the text jumps further down the following page. If we increase the font size, the document needs more pages to contain the text.

And when we have recurring types of details in that longer text, like lists, footnotes, several levels of headings, and so on, a need for rules and templates emerges. We need to think through how a subtle change in one heading will affect all other headings in the document.

These interesting details are things we’ll discuss when we’re looking at book and publication design.

This will be valuable for anyone using