Lessons in Typography: Must-know typographic principles presented through lessons, exercises, and examples

Chapter 5. Text and Layouts

Helping the Reader Read

Once again, a reminder that type that can’t be read is type that isn’t doing you, your client, or your target audience any favors. Readability is a top priority when it comes to presenting words through design.

As mentioned on page 91, legibility is a subjective call. Typefaces that one group of people finds easy to read might challenge and irritate others. And text that’s plenty big enough for people with 20/20 vision might be impossibly small for people with less accurate eyesight. A good rule-of-thumb is to play it safe—to choose fonts and present text in ways that leave nothing to chance. Consider showing a draft of your layout to a few members of your target audience if you have any doubts ...