Free Graphic Design Newsletter!
Discuss in my Forum

Using Typography and Fonts in Graphic Design

Filed In:

Typography & Fonts

Typography is crucial to almost all design projects. It is important to understand basic typography terms, how to use it effectively and how to find and identify the best fonts for a project.

Type Families

The different options available within a typeface, such as roman, bold and italic, make up a type family. Times New Roman and Helvetica are examples of type families. These families are extremely useful because a designer can use just one or two within a project, but still have a wide variety of styles to choose from. This helps to achieve a consistent design.

Basic Typography Terminology

Some basic definitions to help you understand how type is described and measured.

Letter Anatomy

There is a standard set of terms to describe the parts of a character. These terms, and the parts of the letter they represent, are often referred to as "letter anatomy" or "typeface anatomy." By breaking down letters into parts, a designer can better understand how type is created and altered and how to use it effectively.