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Graphic Design vocabulary · Typography

Typography

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

/taɪˈpɑːɡrəfi/nounCore term

In graphic design, typography means: The art and skill of choosing and arranging letters so that text is easy to read and looks right: the choice of typefaces, sizes, spacing and line length.

In Turkish: tipografi, yazı düzeni

How it is used

One of the most common words in design reviews, courses and portfolios. People talk about good, clean, bold or expressive typography, and about the typography of a poster, book or website. The adjective is typographic.

Example sentences

  1. The illustration is lovely, but the typography feels crowded. Can we give the headline more room?

  2. Strong typography is what makes this book cover stand out on the shelf.

Common collocations

  • clean typography
  • expressive typography
  • typography choices
  • web typography
  • typefaceA particular design of letters, numbers and symbols that share the same style, such as Helvetica, Garamond or Futura, usually available in several weights and styles.
  • fontOne specific style and weight of a typeface, such as Arial Bold, usually stored as a file you install on your computer. In everyday speech it often means the typeface itself.
  • kerningAdjusting the space between two particular letters so that the gaps look even, for example pulling the A and V closer together in the word ‘AVENUE’.
  • leadingThe vertical distance between lines of text, measured from one baseline to the next. The name comes from strips of lead that printers once placed between lines of metal type.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Typography

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