Type & Layout: How Typography and Design Can Get Your Message Across-Or Get in the Way

by Colin Wheildon, Mal Warwick (Editor)

"A surprising and useful book full of information and indispensable to anyone involved in communicating ideas through typographic means".--Milton Glaser, president, Milton Glaser, Inc". TYPE & LAYOUT should be required reading before students are allowed to touch a computer".--Dennis G. Martin, Ph.D., Professor of Communications, Brigham Young University.

Genres: Design, Writing, Nonfiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

Reviews

[Julie Bozza · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book that describes how the use of type and layout can aid the reader's comprehension of the subject matter - or hinder their comprehension where it's used incorrectly. Not only does the book describe how and why, but it backs up its conclusions with research findings.

Luckily for me, only one of the conclusions feels unwelcome! Though I suspect there will always be temptations to break the rules...

[Chris Herdt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about how changes in type affect readability and comprehension. According to the studies presented in the book, there are plenty of reasons why you want to use black text on a white page, use serif typefaces, use justified text, etc.

If you design anything that includes text, this book will definitely give you plenty to think about.

[tib · Rating 4 out of 5]

Research-based information on typography and layout, clearly written and offering often surprising detail on readability. A gem.

[Galatea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly useful, much more useful than most other popular works on the subject

[Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I was watching the Mad Men series, tried to find Olgilvy's book, and somehow it led to this, a straightforward, old-fashioned study of which kinds of type and layout are more effective for getting one's message across. I suppose most people "publishing" these days are just using templates, but anyone who wants to design their own flyer, newsletter, or something more ambitious couldn't go wrong to have a peek at this research and advice.