Typeface Functionality

Different reading situation results in different demands to the typefaces used. Sometimes a typeface will need to be conservative, other times it will need to have a strong personality. Sometimes it will benefit from a large x-height and other times it will benefit from a low stroke contrast. In spite of what one might believe, there exist no universally legible typeface. Some typefaces can however swift between several different usages, and still remain legible, while other typefaces are optimised for one particular reading situation.

With and outset in knowledge from the worlds of psychology, neuroscience and design, this presentation will discuss different aspects of typeface legibility, typeface familiarity and typeface connotation.