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Graphic Design Knowledge · Lesson 5 of 13

Typography Basics

Typography is the art of arranging type, including letters and characters.

1 Learn the concept

Typography is the art of arranging type, including letters and characters. It is more than choosing the right typeface; it also involves size, spacing, alignment and how the type fits with other elements. Good typography makes text easy to read and gives a design personality. This lesson explains the basics.

Sample text showing a headline, subhead and body at different sizesA TYPE HIERARCHYSpring SaleHeadline, 44 px boldUp to 30% off garden favoritesSubhead, 24 pxOffer ends Sunday. In-store and online.Body, 16 px
Size and weight show what matters most.

2 See it in action

  • Choose typefaces that suit the message and are easy to read.
  • Limit yourself to two or three fonts.
  • Use size and weight to show hierarchy.
  • Adjust spacing so text is comfortable to read.

Worked example

Choosing fonts

Pick: one serif for headlines and one sans-serif for body text.

Avoid: more than two fonts.

Check: body text is at least 16 pixels on screens.

Result to look for: a layout that is easy to read and looks consistent.

3 Study an example

Example scenario

A designer uses one serif font for headlines and a clean sans-serif for body text, in a few consistent sizes. The page looks organized and readable.

4 Apply it and download

  1. Choose two fonts that work together.
  2. Set a headline, subheading and body style.
  3. Record them in your style guide.

Worksheet Brand style guide templateOpen, print or save as PDF

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