Typography · 02 of 04
Give each typeface a clear job
Start with one family. Add a second when it serves a distinct purpose.
The idea
Use a small, consistent set of type styles so readers can recognise what each part of the page does.
A typeface gives text a particular character, but readers also need to recognise what each piece of text does. Headings introduce a section. Paragraphs explain it. Captions describe an image. A consistent set of styles makes those roles easier to recognise as someone moves through a page.
Start with a family that works for your body text. Try it in a real paragraph at the size people will read, then use its weights and sizes to build headings and supporting labels. One family may provide everything you need. If the headings need a different character, introduce a second family and give it a specific role, such as titles and pull quotes.
When pairing families, compare them in the actual layout. A serif heading with sans-serif body text is one possible approach, but category alone does not make a pairing work. Check the proportions, spacing and emphasis together. Readers should be able to tell a heading from a caption because the styles are consistent, rather than having to interpret a new treatment in every section.
Treat two families as a useful starting constraint, not a universal limit. Additional scripts, an established identity or a distinct editorial purpose may call for more. Before adding another family, identify the need it meets and check whether an existing weight or style could meet it. Record the final roles with examples so the system is easy for others to use.
How to see it
Terms used in this lesson
The parts
- Family
- A related set of type styles, often including several weights and italics.
- Role
- The job a style performs, such as heading, body text or caption.
- Display type
- Type chosen for prominent, usually large text. Check it separately before using it for paragraphs.
- Text type
- Type chosen for comfortable reading in paragraphs at the intended size.
In practice
- Define reusable styles for headings, paragraphs, captions and labels.
- Compare font pairings with real content at desktop and phone sizes.
- Use weight, size and spacing to create distinctions within a family.
Avoid
- Avoid adding a family when an existing style already serves the purpose.
- Avoid choosing body text solely because it looks appealing at headline size.
- Avoid changing the type treatment for the same role from section to section.
The test
Choose a heading, paragraph and caption from three different sections. Does each role use a consistent style? If you remove one family, which useful distinction disappears? Keep it only when you can explain its contribution.
Sources
- Robert BringhurstThe Elements of Typographic Style
- Ellen LuptonThinking with Type
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