You get a new project on your desk. You start with the framework of the design. Next, you get the logo designed as well as the website layout. You then move on to some specific components of the design like color scheme, navigation bar, a beautiful header or slider, etc. Once done, you move to the “Live” phase. That’s all you do in designing a typical website, right?
It is apparently quite common in the design industry that some designers tend to overlook the impact of User Experience (UX) on their website. The website they design although appears appealing, yet they see a huge decline or lack of visitors on it. This all happens when the UX of the website is bad, and one of the many things that lead to a bad UX is inappropriate typography.
Typography & User Experience
Don’t assume that typography is simply a set of different fonts used to generate appeal or gain attention. Typography is much more than that….
Typography is the language of a script that subliminally brings out the persona or emotions of the text or words. The best examples can be taken from the typography used in the movie titles. Take for instance the horror movie titles that reflect frightful and appalling feelings. The purpose behind using horror fonts in movie titles is to bring out the feeling of fright in the audience and make them more curious or interested in watching the movie when it comes out.
The same principle is applied to the web typography, i.e., to make the reader interested in reading the content and make the needed call-to-action that you desire.
Typography Factors That Influence User Experience
- Only the right type of typography can engage the right type of audience. As said earlier, different typographies are used for different purposes. So, don’t go for fancy or swanky fonts when the requirement calls for otherwise.
- The dominating factor in the legibility of a good typography is always the selection of good color scheme. It is common knowledge that colors have distinctive feelings attached to them. Red reflects passion and sometimes violence. Hence, using the right color scheme along with a contrasting background is also important to deliver good UX on your website.
- The line length of the text and the size of the fonts also play a vital role in the readability of web content. Too small font size would force the reader to squint their eyes, while too large font size would put strain on the eyes. Therefore, it is important to keep the size and length decent to promote good readability.