Elements of Typographic Style

Elements of Typographic Style, 9-11, 17-24, 93-118


1. There are several items introduced as "first typographic principles". Please list them and explain them in 1-2 sentences each.

One principle is legibility is important because you need to be able to read the text. If you cannot read it, it is not doing its job, which is to communicate a message.

Another principle is being able to be “in style” during any time period.

2. What are a few technical considerations when choosing type? Make sure to explain them if they are new concepts to you.

One technical consideration is what medium the typeface was originally designed for. Some fonts print differently on different printing equipment.

Another technical consideration is choosing a typeface that will print on the equipment you are printing on. Some fonts do not look as good digital as they did when they were printed on a printing press. Some fonts cannot be copied onto digital equipment as well.

Another technical consideration is choosing a typeface that is good for the paper it is being printed on. Some fonts are meant to be printed on a printing press and not digitally printed.

3. What are a few practical considerations when choosing type? Make sure to explain them if they are new concepts to you.

One practical consideration is choosing a typeface that works with the task as well as the subject. You do not want to pick a typeface that looks like a bicycle if you are writing about bicycles.

Another practical consideration is choosing a typeface that works with any type of special effect you are adding. If you are writing in numerals you want to pick a font that looks good in numerals.

Another practical consideration is choosing a typeface that comes in other styles like bold or italic. This could help break up paragraphs.

4. What are a few historical and cultural considerations when choosing type? Make sure to explain them if they are new concepts to you.

One historical consideration is choosing a typeface whose historical associations work with the type. You want to pick a font that works with the design not just because of the historical time period.

Another historical consideration is if a typeface is from the renaissance period it should be designed for something to look like that period.

One cultural consideration is choosing a typeface that you use just because its name has something to do with the design. Be sure to pick fonts that look good with the design not just with the subject.

5. Beginning on page 102 "The Multicultural Page", explain some of the guidelines for choosing typeface combinations.

Some guidelines to consider when choosing typeface combinations is picking one font family and using different typefaces in the font family like italics or bold. Another guideline to consider is respecting the integrity of roman, italic and small caps. This means that you use them when appropriate and use them separately. Mixing roman and italic is less successful. Another guideline to consider is using bold faces. You should really consider if they will add to your design by using them. Another guideline is choosing titling and display faces to add to the structure of the design. Make sure to consider the structure before choosing something like a script font.