When you are looking at a design, you might notice first the images used rather than the text. But did you know that typography plays an essential role in print design? The brand’s ability to communicate its message is largely the responsibility of typography. This article is created to better understand the impact of typography on print design.
What is typography?
According to Webflow’s article entitled, “The Importance of Typography and How It Influences The Impact of a Design” typography is defined as a form of art in creating and arranging the text so people could easily read it. According to Flux Academy, Typography plays two important roles in the design – printed or digital. The first one is that it promotes legibility. The second one is that it is in charge of the overall sentiment of the design. In addition, it also sets the tone and messaging.
The importance of typography
There are several reasons why graphic designers and brand owners should pay attention to typography. The following are some of the reasons that make typography communicate effectively with the readers.
Attention drawing
Imagine looking at a printed banner with a design so compelling you can’t help but look at it. It’s easy for you to read and digest the message and with a few seconds of looking at it, you already know what it’s about. On the other hand, imagine looking at another banner, with its cursive text you can hardly read what the message is. An effective choice of typography easily attracts attention and stands out from its competition. Several elements need to be considered to do this. This includes the following elements: color, font size, font placement, white space, and design contrast.
Provides focus through hierarchy
One important thing to note when designing print media such as buntings, table covers, or a customized barricade cover is the area of focus. Where do you want your audience to put their attention? A clear visual hierarchy guides the readers on the important part of the design and conveys the message impactfully. A strong typography is effective in navigating the focus from top to bottom of the design.
Have you seen a design that uses headings, subheadings, and the body of the text? All of it should be structured in a way that it’s easy to navigate with your eyes. The choice of font and the layout are crucial elements to make your messaging stand out.
Evokes Emotion
Designs are meant to evoke certain emotions and encourage action in their viewers. This is the reason why choosing the right font is important. If you want your viewers to feel that you are a brand showing professionalism and sophistication, there’s a font for that. The placement of your fonts, choice of font, size, and color all play a role in triggering certain emotions.
Exudes Brand’s Personality
The fun thing about typography is that it helps brands convey their personality to their market. If the brand is vibrant, playful, and fun there are several font sizes with similar characteristics. If you are using the Canva website, there are several types of playful fonts you can choose from such as:
- Lazy dog
- Railey
- Pecita
- Brydan Write
- Handyman
If you are using Adobe software, you might want to consider the following fonts.
- Brevia
- Chorine
- Chill Script
- Gigalypse
- Canada Type
In addition, adding personality to the brand typography also helps in terms of brand recognition. With consistency in the use of the font type, people would right away be familiar with your brand. It makes your brand stick better into your consumer’s mind thanks to the visual elements that you’re using.
Tone setting
Imagine seeing some banners for product discounts and sales. It helps the brand convey the message through carefully selected typography. It helps set that sense of urgency and excitement for its consumers. If you have new products to promote, you want people to get excited about it. Plenty of fonts you can choose to get the message across such as.
- Sans-serif fonts
- Raleway
- Lato
- Montserrat
- Serif Fonts
- Merriweather
- Playfair Display
- Georgia
- Display Fonts
- Bebas Neue
- Pacifico
- Lobster
Typeface Vs Fonts
If you are going to invest in good design, it is recommended to understand the basics of typography. Typeface and fonts are two terms that are often interchangeable but denote different meanings.
Typeface
Typeface pertains to the family of fonts. Think of it as the parents and the fonts are the children. There are several examples of typefaces and fonts such as:
- Sans-Serif
- Montserrat
- Oswald
- Lato
- Serif
- Playfair Display
- Merriweather
- Georgia
- Display and Handwritten
- Bebas Neue
- Pacifico
- Amatic SC
Helpful Tips For Effective Typography in Print Design
The following are some helpful tips to make your design stand out from the rest of the competition.
Be Mindful in Choosing Your Typeface
There are plenty of Typefaces you can choose from. Each of these has its characteristics and purpose. Make sure that you are mindful of which ones to use depending on your goals. If you are using printed books you can choose Serif fonts. For printed banners, consider using the following typefaces:
- Sans-Serif
- Slab Serif
- Display
Stay Consistent
In terms of brand recognition and brand loyalty, consistency is the key. It means that you won’t be jumping from one type of face to another when designing. You can use a couple of fonts together but it has to complement each other.
Prioritize Proper Spacing
Spacing is one way to make sure that your text is readable. If the text is too compressed, people won’t be able to understand your message right away. Make sure that the text is not cluttered.
Have Visual Hierarchy
For better focus and attention retention, make sure that you are using a visual hierarchy. In this way, you can focus your market’s attention on the important pieces of your design. You can make use of bolder and larger fonts.
Make Use of White Space Effectively
White spaces are important. This pertains to the negative space around your text. Use it properly so your design won’t look cluttered and overwhelming. When people take a look at your design. They should feel relaxed and not over-stimulated with too much information.
Give Importance to Readability and Legibility
The purpose of using the right typeface is to make sure that it is easy to read and legible to different kinds of viewers. In line with this, make sure that despite the proximity of where the printed banners are to be placed, it is still readable.
Invest in Knowledge
Graphic designing is constantly evolving. You should invest in knowledge and experience. This will make sure that the design is also improving as you go on. Mastery of using the right fonts will give your brand a competitive advantage. If you can craft visually compelling narratives, your brand will outshine its competitors.
Test and Iterate
You won’t get wrong by testing your design and making changes to make sure that you’re using the right font. Ask different people for their opinions. Gather feedback and make sure that you are incorporating their comments. You don’t have to incorporate everything. Choose the feedback that will make your design look better.
By now, you should have a better understanding of the importance of typography in your printed personalized tents, custom flags, or banners. Typography is such a powerful element. Use it wisely so that you can effectively communicate with your market. As Toast Design Services mentioned in their article, typography is like a silent hero of any graphic design. At the end of the day, there is no use in using such a beautiful design if no one bothers to look or read it. Invest in the use of proper typography for a harmonious and impactful design moving forward.
