Book excerpt: Basics Design: Typography, follows on from Format and Layout to examine a third, fundamental area of graphic design. Typography is the means by which a written idea is given a visual form. The selection of this visual form from hundreds, if not thousands, of typefaces can dramatically affect the legibility of the written idea and a reader’s feelings towards it. Effective use of typography can produce a neutral effect or rouse the passions, symbolise artistic, political or philosophical movements, or even express the personality of a person or organisation. Typefaces vary from clear and distinguishable letterforms that flow easily before the eye and are suitable for extended blocks of text, to more dramatic and eye-catching typefaces that grab attention and are used in newspaper headlines and advertisements. This book’s aim is to impart a comprehensive understanding of typography, to explore its history, theory and practice. Aimed at both students and practising designers, it provides a thorough examination of how typography informs other aspects of creative design.