5 Type Rules for an Excellent User Experience

When it comes to websites and apps, good typography is more than just a pretty typeface. Letting has to be highly readable – and scannable – while providing a solid visual connection to the content.

Readability
One of the first things to consider when selecting a font to use for your website is readability. Can you easily read and comprehend this particular font? It is essential that your text is easy to read through or users simply won’t bother reading at all.

Avoid using typefaces in the script, novelty or blackletter families.

Once you find the right typeface users will be able to easily scan through the information you present.

Leave room in-between lines.
Line spacing may seem like a small factor to consider when creating web content but it is actually very important when it comes down to user experience.

The amount of space you should leave is dependent on a few different variables:

Text Size
Amount of text
Lettering Style
Screen Width
There’s no real rule on how much space to leave but playing around with these variables until you see something that looks uniform.

Rounded lettering.
When choosing your typeface, a good tip to know is that big round letters are easier to read than smaller squared letters. So are letters with large bowls (that space inside letterforms, such as the circle inside an O) Tightly packed, condensed typefaces are a lot harder to read.

Size when using ‘different’ type
If you’re thinking of using a font that’s a little different to the styles already mentioned about, try sizing it up a little. If the style of font you’ve chosen is a little more complicated and slightly harder to read at first glance, making it larger will counteract the difficulty the user experiences.

Limit typeface Usage
Don’t go crazy with fonts! Two typefaces max is enough to give your page an interesting look without overwhelming the user.

Pick up to two typeface families – you can have one more typeface for art elements, if necessary – and stick to them. Map out how each typeface should be used. This includes determining colour, size and placement of typefaces in the design.