Quick Introduction to Typography

Studying Typography as an module right now have made me more observant of typeface (or known to a layman as 'font') in our everyday life. Different typeface have different effects on the product and changes the way we read the word(s). You might not have notice, but typeface used in one environment is different in another.

Typeface is usually classified between Serif and Sans Serif (sans means without in French). Serif fonts have tiny strokes at the end. They are also special in that they have varying weight in the strokes. Sans Serif are the opposite, they have no strokes and they possess uniform weight.

According to 'The Complete Graphic Designer" by Ryan Hembree, "Serif typeface are considered friendly, approachable, and easy to read" in contrast to Sans Serif as they "are very clean, modern and 'corporate' looking". Wikipedia instead consider a "general rule" to use Serif for print and Sans Serif for screen. That is not always the case though, when you consider Georgia and Times New Roman as part of Microsoft core fonts for the Web.

Lastly, there are the decorative typeface. Our lecturer told us that it is best to use decorative typeface for just the title and nothing else.