The great thing about this book is that the “common sense approach” is something that is understandable to everyone. Reading the book will benefit everyone from web designers to website owners who know nothing about web design. Those who have an advanced knowledge might not think they can learn more but might actually be pleasantly surprised at the enjoyment refreshing one’s “knowledge base” can bring. If you feel like you won’t learn anything new at the very least you’ll enjoy the book’s humour.

On the other hand, those who do not have any background on web design will find this book not too difficult to read since it doesn’t contain any code and presents usability concepts in a way that won’t stress your brains. If you don’t believe me just read the glowing customer reviews on Amazon.

A quick list of some of the things you’ll learn:

• First Law of Usability - Don’t make me think. Users want websites to be self-explanatory. They want things to be intuitive. Don’t make them think!
• User habits such as the fact that most users do NOT…
  • read. Instead they simply scan pages so you should avoid being wordy.
  • take time to learn how things work.
• Simple usability tests; and
•  a whole lot more…

• Appropriateness is the key - Remember there is no one perfect for a any website. When choosing fonts you do not have to find the perfect font all you need to do is choose the one you like best among the appropriate fonts.
• Font size - The size of the font is just as important as the type you choose. Stick with font sizes that are readable. You can use different font sizes but do not use too many sizes. Three different font sizes is enough to distinguish between main heading, subheading, and body text.
• Spacing - Always make sure there’s enough line spacing so that you wouldn’t waste all the effort you put into choosing a good font. Make sure that there’s a larger space between headlines than the usual line spacing. This is done to make the headline stand out even more allowing the visitor to see what the website has in store with just a single glance.
• Mixing and matching - You do not have to stick to one font type. You can mix and match typefaces. However, make sure that the typefaces you choose blend well together and give an appearance of consistency.

For example sites A and B can both be a an online resource for pet owners, however site A’s goal is to be interactive and fun while site B’s goal is to provide in-depth organised and technical information. Because of this site A should use fonts that exudes a more casual feel while site B should use fonts that are more traditional.

Note that the “feeling” conveyed by a site and the level of formality are often interchanged but still differ in that they can have the same level of formality but have a different tone or vice versa.

For example sites X and Y both want a cheerful feel but since site X’s target audience are kids while site Y’s target audience are elderly then you can be sure that site X will have a more casual feel than site Y.

On the other hand companies QWE and RTY both want formal/traditional websites, however, since QWE deals with the mortuary business while RTY deals with family planning toys then obviously site RTY will have a lighter feel than the more somber QWE site, which in turn will definitely affect the choice of font to be used as well as the presentation of the fonts.

As an example if you look at the typewriter fonts listed in Simply the Best Fonts you will see that each font gives a more traditional feel. However, due to the colour and the size of each font the feel differs greatly. The Hammerkeys font really makes you feel like you’re reading an old novel, while the Teletype font still feels like a novel but a more recently published one. Hence, the type of font you use can affect a person’s impression of how old the contents are, how serious, and even hint at the actual topic (see Gothic Fonts).

Another good example would be the Creeper font, a liquid horror font. It is obviously can obviously be used for any halloween-themed sites but you can tweak the “scariness factor” by simply changing the colour. Keeping the font a deep blood red will make it look scary of course but changing the colour to a soft pink or sky blue will lessen the effect.

Just for fun try tweaking the colours and sizes of different fonts. You’ll find that you’ll learn a lot about choosing an appropriate one to convey/reflect the feeling you want.

to be continued…

• the purpose of the font;
• the feeling you wish to convey; and
• the level of formality you need.

As mentioned in the previous post the purpose will determine the appropriate type, size and colour to use. Ask yourself will the font be used to showcase the body or will it be used for headings and other display features.

If the font will be used for the body text you will need to use clean simple fonts that are easy on the eye. The purpose of the font for the body text is to make it very readable. The recommended font size is usually 11 point although depending on the type you can use anything from 9 to 12 point. Again, remember that if your audience consists of the elderly make sure you use a big font size (12 to 14 point). It would also be a good idea to provide a way to change the font size easily.

If the font will be used for headings and other display features you will be needing bigger font sizes. You can also emphasise the heading by using a different colour for the font or even a different background colour to make the heading pop out. You can use the same font used in the body text to get a more consistent feel or you can opt for a fancier font. The choice for this will depend on the next two factors that will be discussed in the succeeding posts on choosing fonts.

to be continued…

Another important thing to remember is that it exists to make the text readable. This means that you should never choosy a pretty or cool text if it is hard to read. Spacing between letters and lines comes into consideration as well because even if the type used has clean lines tightly packed letters are harder to reader. This also implies using the appropriate font size. If your target audience are older you should use bigger font sizes regardless of the typeface you use.

When scanning a website or even reading a book the type is actually very important because even though readers rarely consciously notice the typeface used subconsciously it affects the reading experience. It is not only the actual words that speaks to the reader but also the typeface. In spoken communication it could be likened to body language. This includes not only the font type but also the size and the color used.

Notice that if you visit a website you automatically form an impression depending on the type used. Curvy scripts are associated with femininity, types with clean lines appear professional, big fonts appeal to the younger audience as well as seniors, etc. Choosing an appropriate typeface is very important to give a good first impression to your target audience. Choosing the wrong font will not only lessen the appeal of your site but can also make them question your credibility. So if you haven’t been putting emphasis on the type in your site now is the time to take a good look and find the one that’s optimal for your site.

to be continued…