One of the most essential and enjoyable aspects of graphic design is typography. Whether you are a seasoned graphic designer or are new to design, it is always beneficial to refresh your memory on typographic fundamentals.
Every client’s dream is to find a designer who has mastered their craft. Like any talent or profession, before you can ultimately develop and grow your skillset, you must first grasp particular rules and principles.
We’ve outlined below some of the most essential typographic principles, according to experts.
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Use easy-to-read-text.
The font styles you choose should be simple to read. Legibility is always on top of the list. You don’t want your message to go ignored because the consumer could not read it.
If you want to experiment with fancy-looking cursive fonts, don’t overdo it. Short headlines or emphasizing specific phrases should have the required effect without straining the reader’s eyes.
Don’t overdo it.
In your bid to impress buyers, don’t use too many typefaces in your design. We know it can get cluttered with all the fantastic creative ideas that usually develop with each design iteration. However, you might be surprised at how great the results will be when you choose to keep it simple.
Don’t use more than two complementary typefaces. If you must use more than that, make sure to consult a professional designer or get lots of feedback from your team or sample consumer group.
Use relevant typography.
The typefaces you select in the design should be influenced by the tone and content of your text. Fonts should be more traditional and simple when structuring an academic work or producing a professional Business-2-Business brochure.
However, if the text is more humorous or imaginative, you have a lot more leeway in terms of font selection. Typography should work to enhance and amplify the message of interest and not be the actual point of interest.
Leave enough empty space.
Too much text may make your packaging look unattractive. Leave enough space around the edges, keeping text at least 0.125″- 0.25″ from the edge.
However, leaving more space is even more visually attractive. Using too many typefaces with lots of fill colors and illustrations may make your design appear cluttered and difficult to focus on.
Make the font interesting.
Using multiple font weights adds contrast, making the text more interesting without too much effort. Use typefaces with a variety of weight options for a more dramatic effect. Try using light and bold text.
Use appropriate font size.
When designing small items like business cards, it’s easy to forget that small text is difficult to read. It is preferable to deliver information using a few words for considerable text size.
Always ensure that the font is the right size in relation to the total size of your artwork, both visually and technically. A 7pt font size, for example, is acceptable for business cards since it is a little piece of paper with only a few lines of text information, and this font size is adequate for a document of such modest proportions. However, using it on large amounts of text, such as on letterheads or in magazines, is not a smart idea. Even if the 7pt text is printed, it must be legible and visually appealing.
Combine sans-serif and serif fonts.
These two typefaces are, in many cases, the best combination. Use one font for the headlines and the other for the rest of the text.
Understand typography rules and don’t shy away from help.
Knowing the standards and principles may help you enhance your designs that include significant typographic components. For outstanding graphics on your packaging materials, an expert’s input could be of great help.