Besides the developing part of the visual look and feel, typography plays an important role in looking after the useful aspect of an app. Therefore, typography in app design is a lot more than just selecting a font.
“Typography refers to the art and science of organizing text to boost readability and legibility of the conveyed message.”
Typography affects on User Experience
The font and the overall typography design have a great influence on the user experience of an app. Retaining consistency is key because users, first of all, want to know what the app is all about and make up their minds accordingly. Your use of font should rather focus on getting the content more legible and readable. The typography should simply work as a boost to overall UX design focused on ease of use.
7 Typography Essentials in Mobile App Design
Design styles will come and go, and so does typography. However, some design elements and typography rules will remain stagnant as they have been tested and tried across multitudes of successful apps. And based on the design experts, we will explain the seven laws of typography in app design.
1. Mix and Match
No app just uses a specific typeface all over the app. various typefaces are used to introduce content and functions with visual clarity and usability. Naturally, while using a variety of typefaces, blending them with the right balance to create a sense of priority is essential.
A sensible and visually appealing combination of fonts can boost your design to a great extent. A good mix of fonts with different sizes, textures and colour options can quickly give your design a facelift. While mixing fonts always remember to choose each font to play a definitive role.
2. Focus on Creating a Hierarchy
The heading of text content enjoys maximum priority, supported by the sub-heading and then the content body. This hierarchy is explained in the way different fonts with changing sizes and boldness are used in these parts of text content. Similarly, in-app design, the use of typography should allow for establishing a hierarchy. The good use of hierarchy through typography will help users easily navigate and express the importance of messages in the right order.
3. Font Size
We all know that typefaces come with various looks, feels and sizes. While several are thin and lean, there are others with broad and wide looks, and there are still others in between these two boundaries. Naturally, designers, while choosing fonts, need to concern about the size requirements for their design.
It is recommended to use different typefaces with a similar height to maintain conformity and balance. The font width is another point of serious consideration. Proper width can ensure the right space between letters and thus can enhance readability.
4. Using Correct Leading
Leading in typefaces refers to the upright space between each text line. This space has a lot of effect on the readability of content on screen. To make sure the legibility of the on-screen text, you must ensure a leading value varying between from 1.25 to 1.5 times the size of the font used.
5. Proper Kerning
Kerning refers to another aspect of using space in the on-screen text content. It is an important element of any design. Kerning basically refers to the space between two letters.
Designers, by using the right proportion of kerning in the text of an app, ensure optimum legibility of the design and readability of the on-screen text. Effective kerning ensure letters in text sit more closely, creating a neat look.
6. Use the Minimum Number of Fonts
Lots Of designers in their early career test a lot with too many different font types and styles. Applying too many fonts eventually risks their interfaces to lose consistency and rationality. Therefore, it advisable to use a limited number of fonts to give an organized look and feel when paired with each other. Never apply two very different fonts as this can make the copy look rough-edged and confused.
7. Maintain Correct Contrast and Color
Make Use Of the right contrast and colour is a key part of good typography design. Since mobile screens are smaller in size and mobile users are likely to look at screens on the go, maintaining at-a-glance visibility with the use of right contrast and proper colour scheme is crucial.
Conclusion
Finally, we must say that the white space in app design is not just vacant or empty. So, it must be utilized appropriately to ensure optimum visibility, clarity and the least amount of distraction. Balanced use of white space around on-screen elements will boost readability, traction and user engagement. White space works as the silent determinant factor for your design legibility.