Traditional Type in the Digital Era
Silvia Weinzettelova · Bulletin - Prague College Centre for Research and Interdisciplinary Studies · 2012
The rapid transformation of print to digital media has been triggered by the technological development of past few decades.With the invention of personal computers and graphical user interface (GUI) to make interaction between the user and the machine possible, typography for UI has become one of the most challenging parts of user experience development.Nowadays, the statistics show that the modern society is about to reach yet another significant milestone -a full switch towards mobile technology.Smartphones, iPhones, and tablets have been dominating the market for the past few years.However, the predictions show that in the next few years, sales of such devices are going in any other direction but upwards.This paper explores the predestination of traditional typefaces nowadays, in the era of digital technology.The author argues that the traditional typefaces are struggling to stay relevant in a world where most media is viewed on electronic screen devices.For the research, mostly secondary sources were used which may also pose a limitation to the study.Primary data would have been valuable, especially in the area of semiotics, emotions, and subjective comprehension of typography and UI. The first part of this paper briefly reviews the history of typography and the ways how the traditional type-faces had been modified in order to ensure high readability and legibility.Semiotics of type, as well as the importance of positive emotional response to UI and UX, are discussed in the second part, highlighting the important patterns in the user's comprehension and emotional responses.In the third place, the shift towards the "mobile first" approach is emphasised, and the importance of adopting the appropriate methods and techniques which would ensure the optimal representation on in-formation on small screen handheld devices is justified; the problems caused by type scaling and reading patterns, screen resolution, pixel representation, and back-lit environment are identified.Furthermore, the optimal characteristics of screen fonts are explained.Last but not least, the present and future of typography on small screens is discussed.