Typography Essay 1

Typography Essay

Montana M. Graham

Ottawa University

Visual Communication

Professor Webb

September 18, 2022

Typography Essay 2

Abstract

“How words are presented, are just as important as what those words are”, is a statement

that I have never heard. After thinking about it and processing it I would have to agree. Although

some people may disagree, I think that it is a valid statement. The way words are presented make

or break the way we interpret them.

Typography Essay 3

Typography Essay

Have you ever sent a text or received a text using all uppercase letters? How about

seeing pictures with specific fonts? These most likely make you feel differently each time. That

is what they are meant to do. They are meant to draw your attention. I believe that typography

plays a huge role in messaging, on social media, and in advertising.

Messaging

“Typography has a profound effect on the way that users digest and perceive the

information conveyed by the text.” I believe this statement to be true. I feel that although

typography is about fonts, I think it also relates to messaging with people. The way that texts are

presented, are just as important as what they are. While messaging with family and friends, we

tend to use uppercase letters at some point. Whether it be when we are using proper

capitalization, or when we are using all uppercase letters when trying to make it seem like we are

“yelling” or “excited”. I believe that it also differs for each person. When texting with a parent,

or an adult for that matter, I tend to use proper punctuation and capitalization to get what I am

saying across maturely. Although when texting friends, I seem to not worry about how it looks.

For me, I feel that when people use periods, they are upset. Even though it is proper. When they

use exclamation points, they are excited. I also believe that the way people communicate through

texting can also cause a lot of misunderstanding. The way that the messages are typed may make
Typography Essay 4

the reader interpret it way differently than the sender had expected. I believe that this also plays a

huge role in social media.

Social Media

Social media is one of the ways that typography is used. Whether you are on Instagram,

Facebook, Snapchat, or Pinterest, it is always present. Many influencers use typography to gain a

bigger audience. The more aesthetically pleasing it looks, the more interest people will have. I

find that when posts have large text headings with smaller subheadings, they are easier for me to

comprehend, therefore gaining my interest and I end up wanting to learn more. I think that this

ties into how words are presented are just as important as what the words are. If they are

presented poorly, then I feel like they have no meaning. I am an avid Pinterest user, and when I

am on Pinterest the posts that stand out to me the most are the ones with cool fonts. I tend to not

click on pins that have no text on them, because I do not know immediately what they are about.

That plays a big factor into whose posts I am giving attention to. Almost every post I have saved

has text on the pictures. I truly believe that typography plays a huge role in how people on social

media gain more attention.

Advertising

In my opinion, advertising is one of the best uses of typography. Millions of companies

use typography while creating their advertisements. “Typography is important in advertising

because it tells the consumer what they're reading and why it's important to them.” I believe this
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to be true. Fast food companies use typography in their ads, catching customers eyes, which

then make them order more food. I also believe that if someone makes an ad for basketball

shoes, they may use text to their advantage by making the letters look like they are bouncing, as

if a basketball would. Fashion companies use typography in their advertisements based on the

theme of the clothing they are trying to sell. I also think that electronic companies use

typography to sell more products, such as Apple. Their advertisements are sleek and aesthetically

pleasing, which makes people choose their products. That and the way that their products built in

fonts look is what drew my attention to them. I believe that companies that are advertising

products make great use of typography.

Conclusion

In conclusion, messaging, social media, and advertising are great examples of the uses of

typography. Being an art major, typography in these three things have always stood out to me. I

truly agree that how words are presented are just as important as what the words are, and I

believe it is a great thing to have. Otherwise our world would be quite boring.
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References

Hannah, J. (2022, August 3). What is typography, and why is it important? [2022 guide]. Career

Foundry. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/ui-

design/beginners-guide-to-

typography/#:~:text=Typography%20is%20the%20art%20of,brings%20the%20text%20to

%20life.

Kara Holmstrom Marketing Consultant. (n.d.). The importance of typography in advertising.

Diggles Creative. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from

https://www.digglescreative.com/blog/importance-of-typography-in-

advertising.html#:~:text=Typography%20is%20important%20in%20advertising,typograph

y%20also%20engages%20the%20consumer.