Legibility
In visual communication, there are certain elements that are key to success. There are many things to bear in mind when creating a piece of work, such as the target audience, the message you want to convey but more importantly, how you want to convey it. There is no use in writing the most interestingly informative piece of writing if no one is going to read it. The trick is to draw attention to it, that’s where legibility comes in. Large letters, bright colours, different fonts…these are some of many tools a visual communicator utilizes in order to effectively relate his or her message.
The image on the left for instance, is an issue of The New York Times from 1908. We can see seven columns with single spaced, small type text. Granted, the article headings are bigger than the articles themselves but all in all it is a compilation of words, which doesn’t seem like the kind of thing you want to be squinting to read first thing in the morning.
This more recent issue of The New York Times however (on the right), gives clues as to what you’re about to read, using images as well as different font sizes, clear article separations, using italics to stress something in particular.
In visual communication, there are certain elements that are key to success. There are many things to bear in mind when creating a piece of work, such as the target audience, the message you want to convey but more importantly, how you want to convey it. There is no use in writing the most interestingly informative piece of writing if no one is going to read it. The trick is to draw attention to it, that’s where legibility comes in. Large letters, bright colours, different fonts…these are some of many tools a visual communicator utilizes in order to effectively relate his or her message.
This more recent issue of The New York Times however (on the right), gives clues as to what you’re about to read, using images as well as different font sizes, clear article separations, using italics to stress something in particular.Nevertheless, we must make a distinction between Legibility and Readability. There are some mistakes to be found where it is impossible to read something or it is downright annoying. It is obvious though when it is done on purpose; many typefaces aim to create a typographic statement, or to blend with the spirit of the piece.
In short, type must be legible to make it readable, but making type more legible doesn’t necessarily increase readability.
Researching the Practice
There’s no way to enter the world of visual communication (or any other for that matter) clueless and start working at random. There must have been something, someone that inspired us to embark in such or such field. It is that spark which ignites our curiosity and our thirst for knowledge expands. We start by liking the idea of an artist, the style…then we wonder how they did it, and we start scouring for answers via the internet, books, everything. It’s because we want to be like them, or at least a unique version of them. This then becomes part of our working routine – to research.
It is vital to know a lot about our field as well as about particular projects. It enables us to be as creative and original as we can be, and opens our minds to all kinds of possibilities! Instead of just one solution to a problem, why not dozens? Why not more even? Only by searching and finding and trying all sorts of things can you have a real choice.
By doing a lot of research, whether new techniques, new ideas or new sources of inspiration, you define yourself as an artist; finding what you like and what you don’t, you create your own style.
David Carson made a name for himself by manipulating type and photography, twisting them together in order to confuse the message, but in reality drawing attention deeper within the composition.
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