Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 4: Legibility and readability
This chapter looks at the fundamentals of communicating through type, image
and graphic elements. It is important when producing a piece of information
design to ensure that the message is communicated clearly without any ambi-
guity. The use of typography, colour and graphic elements is crucial to trans-
mitting the necessary information in all design contexts, and every choice has
an impact and significance.
Understanding legibility and readability
When referring to legibility and readability, most people think primarily about ty-
pography. The dictionary definition, however, refers to being able to read clearly.
This means that legibility and readability can be applied to imagery as well as typo-
graphy. For our purposes, these terms should refer to how recognizable and under-
standable a piece of communication is. Within information design many factors may
be used to convey the data or message. These might include elements other than ty-
pography, such as diagrams, imagery, graphic elements and colour-coding. In order
for the design to be user-friendly and coherent, these factors need to be carefully con-
sidered.
The terms 'legibility' and 'readability' can often be confused, so it is important to cla-
rify their meanings. Legibility relates to letterforms and how easy it is to distinguish
individual characters or alphabets in certain fonts. Readability refers to typeforms but
also, more importantly, the sympathetic and logical placement of them within a com-
position. How clear and easy is it to read a piece of text? There are many factors that
may affect this, such as the choice of font, size, colour, the use of space and the ar-
rangement within that space. The way in which the text is presented can also affect
its readability; for example, whether typography is viewed on screen, on a page, or
within a dedicated exhibition space with ambient lighting.
'Most people think typography is about fonts. Most designers think typography is
about fonts. Typography is more than that, it is expressing language through type.'
