Today an infinite number of typographic characters (fonts) can be created with a computer. What makes typography a good typography is the correct choice of these characters based on the message you want to communicate.
The message must be clear and unambiguous.
What is typography?
The word typography comes from the Greek words “typos” (form) and “graphia” (writing), so typography means writing using forms.
Typography is a compromise between font, size, line spacing, spacing, and other factors that are arranged functionally and visually with each other. Today, typography is considered an art.
Martin Solomon (1995) considers typography as an expression of his opinion: “Typography is the art of mechanically producing letters, numbers, symbols and shapes through an understanding of the basic elements, principles and attributes of design.”
That’s right from my point of view too, typography is design.
What is communication
Communication is the exchange of any type of information between people. When this exchange is done through visual elements, visual communication is born.
Although visual communication is limited for example when compared to speech, it allows us to communicate with people who do not speak our own language and from this point of view it has a more universal dimension.
Let’s think for example of road signs, their message is fast, easy to understand and above all it is universally recognized.
The language of the fonts
Fonts speaks their own language. Some characters are normally suitable for all types of communication, others are suitable only for certain types of messages, still others are purely decorative in nature.
When an unsuitable font is used, the chance of a wrong message being passed is very high. Choosing a font without knowledge or just for its beauty makes the writing difficult to read and could pass the wrong message.
For example, the HOBO font is a simple font. A sign written in this font is perfect, for example, for a shop that sells sandwiches, but it is inappropriate for a luxurious restaurant.
Hand Writing
There are four categories for this group of characters:
- scripts
- cursive
- Text
- Calligraphic
They all look like handwritten fonts.
If all letters are capitalized, reading is extremely difficult. Normally you choose to have only the first letter uppercase and the others lowercase.
- Scripts
They are free fonts used for special messages such as invitations that require a minimum amount of text. They are very elegant fonts.
- Cursive
These fonts appear to be bent to the right.
There are extensions between one letter and another and this causes them to be linked.
- Text
This is the first font created by Gutenberg. It represents tradition and is normally used in certificates and diplomas.
- Calligraphic
All letters are very elegant. The contrast is emphasized by its lines. They are fonts used for the first letters of invitations and elegant advertisements. This is a very popular font.
- Decorative writing
Fonts that fall into this category are meant to be used for decorative and graphic purposes. There are no rules for these fonts, your imagination is the only limit. They are fonts that are not used for texts, but for artistic works.
