By Elliot Jay Stocks

We communicate with text every single day, but what does it mean to really understand type—to use it with clear intent and purpose?

The art and science of typography combines subtle tweaks to line lengths with harmonious combinations of weights and styles; considered typeface pairings with a robust set of alternate characters; exciting technological advances with the realities of font licensing. There are so many ways designers can optimize how text is read and influence the way its message is understood—and yet so many designers miscommunicate without even realizing it.

Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, Universal Principles of Typography pairs clear explanations of each principle with visual examples of it applied in practice. By considering these concepts and examples, you can learn to make more informed, and ultimately better, typography decisions.

Building upon tried-and-tested principles from the world of print through to the very latest advances in browser technology, this book will equip you with everything you need to make the most informed typographic decisions in your design work today. Topics include characters and glyphs; fonts vs. typefaces; hierarchy; inclusivity; OpenType; pairing type; rhythm; and web fonts.

Includes a foreword by Ellen Lupton

Designed and illustrated by Elliot Jay Stocks

Published by Rockport Publishers, 2024

Hardcover, 224 pages, 8.75 × 10.25 inches

ISBN: 978-0-76-038338-4