Why Is Typography In Web Design Such A Huge Affair?

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the term “typography”? I guess, almost every non-web designer will find very little difference between font and typography. I don’t even blame them. And why should I? There are innumerable numbers of “almost-synonymous” words in this planet, and I don’t bother myself to know them all.

However, it’s truly a catastrophe if a web designer gets mixed up between these two terms, and ends up announcing: “Typography is all about using the prettiest looking font”. Well, he will indeed have a lot to unlearn.

What is Typography?

Many well-known typographers have presented their own definitions on what typography is all about. As I assimilated all the definitions, I was able to come up with a very simple definition of my own:

“Typography is not just restricted to the font. It encircles major web elements like layout, point size, color palette and choice of typeface with the sole purpose of making the textual content more interesting and easily readable.”

Typography, therefore, is an integral part of web design. It not only makes a website look appealing, but also defines its purpose of the textual content. And even though the focus is shifting towards visual content with the rise of Smartphones and Tablets, textual content still holds its ground in modern web design.

Why is Typography Important?

If you are still not convinced, here are a few reasons why I think typography is something you should never consider as trivial:

A Visual Summary

Be it a cool vibe or a professional air, the design alone can never create the desired effect in a website. In fact, it is the typography that complements the design. And leave aside the looks, the arrangement of the texts, and the size and color of the fonts are highly responsible for evoking the desired feelings.

Attractive Content

We judge with our eyes first, right? If this is the case, then why should we even bother to read a content that is unappealing and hard to read? Unless you have a copy that is high on intrinsic value, readers will not even think twice before clicking away. You must remember that even a mediocre content can bring high traffic by using typographic elements that are simple and easy on the eyes.

An Invaluable Guide

Good-looking content is not enough when it comes to directing your web visitors to the area where you want them to reach. Smart use of typographic elements can influence how your content is getting read. From the size and color to the alignment and the arrangement, all these elements together play a key part to reveal the flow and the structure of your website. This, in turn, will make your website easily navigable.

Conclusion

Apart from these three major points, typography also plays an active role in maintaining a consistency in a website. Moreover, you can also establish your brand identity by using a unique typography that helps you achieve an overall harmony along with your logo.

Typography is a powerful tool that can affect your conversion rate to a great extent. Therefore, think carefully when you redesign your website and emphasize more on typography.