Typography can make or break a design. It’s often the difference between professional work and amateur attempts. Master these fundamentals to elevate your designs.
Hierarchy Creates Order
Use size, weight, and spacing to guide readers through content. Your hierarchy should make it immediately clear what’s most important.
The Rule of Three
Stick to three typefaces maximum — ideally from the same family or with complementary characteristics. More than three creates visual chaos.
Mind Your Measure
Line length affects readability. Aim for 50-75 characters per line for body text. Longer lines exhaust readers; shorter ones feel choppy.
Leading Matters
Line height (leading) should typically be 1.4-1.6 times your font size for body text. Tight leading feels cramped; loose leading disconnects lines.
Kerning and Tracking
Headlines often need manual kerning adjustments. Pay special attention to letter combinations like AV, WA, and To.
Contrast Is Key
Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background. This isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about accessibility and readability.
Responsive Typography
Text should scale gracefully across devices. Use relative units and test on multiple screen sizes.
