If you were to look at any website or app that has great user interface and user experience design, you will see that typography plays a big role in creating such an impact. It is not just about choosing the right font but also understanding how to use it effectively in every scenario.
The way typefaces are used in websites and apps make a big difference to its overall appeal as well as its usability. Whether you are a beginner or an expert UI/UX designer, it’s always good to know some insider tricks on how to use typography in your next project. Luckily for you, this blog post will give you 6 useful insights on how to use typography more often and effectively when designing user interfaces.
Know your User’s Behaviour and Expectation
There is a subtle difference between “using typography” and “using text”. While you can use text anywhere and everywhere, the same cannot be said about typography. You need to be careful about where you use typography, because it is more than just choosing a font and slapping it on your page.
To get started with typography, you first need to know what your user’s behaviour and expectation from a web page is. You need to know what are the key objectives that your user will be looking for on a page. For example, if you are creating a login page, your user expects to see the “login” text (or button), username and password fields, a “forgot password” link, and a “sign up” button. This is just a sample of what your user expects on a login page.
This way, you will be able to know what type of typography to use on your web page. For instance, if you are creating a login page, you may want to use a sans serif typeface like Arial or Helvetica. These typefaces are clean, simple and easy to read.
Use the right font size
The font size of the text plays a significant role in the overall design of your UI. You need to be careful about choosing the right font size for your text and for the right part of your design. For example, if you are designing a menu for a website, you may want to use a font size that is above 16 pixels. This way, your menu will look more like a header instead of a menu.
Another example is, if you are creating a website that has a lot of text on it, you may want to use a larger font size so that your users don’t get tired of reading all that text at one go. You may also want to add some line breaks in the text so that it becomes easier to read. Your website’s content is what keeps your users engaged and coming back for more. So, using the right font size is an essential part of designing your UI.
Establish with strong Typography
As we’ve discussed earlier, the way you use typography in your UI design makes a huge difference to the overall design. You want your website to look attractive, but you also want it to be easy to navigate. There are plenty of ways in which you can use typography to do just that. Here are a few of them.
Striped columns
If you have a long block of content on your website, you can break it up by creating striped columns in the content. This is an effective way to make your content look interesting, as well as make it easier to navigate for your users.
Drop caps
Drop caps are great for adding more visual appeal to your website. They are used for titles of articles or blog posts. You can use drop caps to make your titles more appealing, as well as create a more visually appealing design.
Strong call-to-action button text
If you are creating any kind of button on your website, like a “sign up” or “download” button, you want it to be strong and eye-catching. You can do this by making your button’s text large and bold. You can also add a colour to it so that it stands out.
Typography color schemes
Most websites these days are using some kind of colour scheme for their design. You can also use typography to create a colour scheme for your website. You can do this by choosing a primary typeface and then choosing a secondary typeface that complements it.
Add visual weight with Typography
There are plenty of ways in which you can use typography to add visual weight to key elements in your website. Not only will this make your website look good, but it will also help you navigate through your website more easily. Here are a few ways in which you can add visual weight to elements in your website using typography.
- Add visual weight to your logo – Your logo is the most important element on your website. You want people to get attracted to it right away. There are many ways in which you can use typography to add visual weight to your logo. The first is by choosing the right typeface that goes well with your logo. The second is by choosing the right colour for your logo. The third is by adding bold and stylish typography to your logo.
- Make your call-to-action buttons stand out – As we’ve discussed earlier, you want your call-to-action buttons to stand out. You can do this by making them bigger than the rest of your buttons. You can also make them bolder and add some style to them. Doing this will make your buttons pop out and grab your users’ attention.
- Add visual weight to your content – Your content is a big part of your website. It is what keeps your audience coming back for more. You want your content to be visually appealing as well as interesting. There are many ways in which you can add visual weight to your content using typography. The first is by making your text bolder and larger. The second is by keeping your paragraphs short. The third is by using bold and colourful headings that match the mood of your content.
Conclusion
Typography plays a big role in UI/UX design and is often overlooked when creating a design. The use of typography can greatly influence how a user feels whilst navigating a website or app. The right typefaces can evoke a certain emotion and can even be used as a marketing tool.
It is important to understand how to use typography in design, as it can make a significant impact on the user experience. From choosing the right typefaces to using the right font sizes, colours, and line breaks, there are many ways to incorporate typography into a design.
References
- Watch ‘Typography tutorial‘ from thefutur
- Understanding Typography by Material Design
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