Overview
Typographic design is one of the key components of publishing production. Though many readers only pay attention to what they are reading, typography plays a large role in the legibility, attractiveness, and readability of published materials. Good typographic design enables the dissemination of information in an efficient manner and provides each piece with a polished look.
Designing for Legibility
Proper choice of fonts, point sizes, spacing, and page layouts is critical for creating legible publications. Publishing professionals arrange title, body copy, captions, and other textual elements in order to establish a visual hierarchy. A unified design scheme facilitates the effortless reading of any piece.
Additionally, typography is used to define the personality of a publication. Each genre may require its own distinct typographic style, whether it be for a novel, non-fiction book, magazine, or business publication. All of these styles should still convey the necessary information and be easy to read.
Aesthetics vs. Practicality
In professional publishing, aesthetics should never compromise functionality. The designer will collaborate with the editorial and production staff to make sure that the design serves the purpose of the piece. From the typeface selection to the line height and margins, all typographic decisions are made to create a high-quality product.
Since publications are now being printed as well as viewed digitally, typography needs to remain consistent regardless of medium. Flexible typography ensures that the design remains consistent, no matter the size of the page or device used to view it.
Summary
Typography is not just a cosmetic addition, but it is a necessary component of publishing production. By understanding how typography impacts reading, the typesetting professional is able to produce documents that are aesthetically pleasing and easy to read for print and digital audiences.