Design Philosophy

Core principles that define typographic design

Type as Image

Typography functions as both readable content and graphic element, creating visual impact through letterforms alone.

Hierarchy Through Scale

Dramatic size relationships create clear information architecture without relying on color or decorative elements.

White Space as Design

Generous spacing and careful positioning allow typography to breathe and create rhythm across the layout.

Core Techniques

Methods for creating typographic design

Dramatic Scale Contrast

Create visual hierarchy by making headlines 3-5 times larger than body text. This establishes clear information architecture through size relationships alone.

LARGE small

Grid-Based Alignment

Use baseline grids and careful alignment to create underlying structure. Typography reveals the grid rather than requiring visible guidelines.

Aligned Text

Typographic Texture

Create visual interest through letter-spacing, line-spacing, and text arrangement. Typography itself becomes a textural element in the design.

TIGHT L O O S E S
T
A
C
K

Minimal Color Palette

Focus on high contrast between text and background. Use color sparingly and strategically to maintain emphasis on typographic hierarchy.

Black Gray Blue

Typography as Art

Exploring expressive typography treatments

SCALE detail

Dramatic scale creates visual impact

Typography
creates
visual
RHYTHM

Spacing and repetition create rhythm

Serif & Sans

Font pairing creates visual tension

VERTICAL

Direction adds dynamic energy

Interactive Elements

Experience typographic interaction design

Typography in Action

Interactive Card

Hover to see how typography can create engaging interactions without heavy visual effects.

Typography • Design • Interaction
Display
Headline Text
Body text for comfortable reading
Caption and metadata

Advanced Typography Features

Optical Sizing
Typography Typography
Letter Spacing
TIGHT NORMAL L O O S E
Typographic Hierarchy
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Caption

Key Elements

Essential components of typographic design

Visual Inspiration

  • Swiss International Style posters
  • Modernist book typography
  • Newspaper and magazine layouts
  • Minimalist editorial design
  • Academic publication design
  • Contemporary web typography

Typography Patterns

  • Dramatic scale relationships
  • High contrast color schemes
  • Optimal reading line lengths (45-75 characters)
  • Mathematical spacing rhythms
  • Clear typographic hierarchy
  • Subtle interactive feedback

"Typography is the craft of endowing human language with a durable visual form."

— Robert Bringhurst

Typography Through Time

Key moments in typographic design evolution

1440

Gutenberg Press

Johannes Gutenberg's movable type revolutionizes typography and makes books accessible.

1920s

Bauhaus Movement

Form follows function. Typography becomes a tool for clear communication.

1950s

Swiss International Style

Grid-based layouts and sans-serif typography create the foundation for modern design.

1990s

Digital Revolution

Web fonts and digital typography open new possibilities for expressive design.

2020s

Variable Fonts

Responsive typography adapts to context, screen size, and reading conditions.

Tools & Resources

Essential tools for typographic design

Design Software

  • Adobe InDesign
  • Figma
  • Sketch
  • Adobe Illustrator

Font Resources

  • Google Fonts
  • Adobe Fonts
  • Font Squirrel
  • Type Network

Development

  • CSS Grid
  • Variable Fonts
  • CSS Clamp()
  • Web Font Loaders

Learning

  • The Elements of Typographic Style
  • Thinking with Type
  • Web Typography
  • Typography Handbook