We read when we are online. It is a very simple statement, but we read an awful lot of text and we do so without realizing that much thought goes into the design of the text that we are reading.

Just as there are trends in the imagery, use of color and other design elements, the actual fonts and type that make up the words go through trends, too.

Smudgy, droplet laden greys and greyish blacks in lettering symbolize the gritty, deeply urban or post apocalyptic/industrial grittiness of image that has been popular for a time with Gen X’ers. There are incredible and infinite font and designer alphabet possibilities these days.

These fonts are fine for logos, site names, titling, headers, labels and other limited uses, but there are limitations to fonts that are acceptable for presenting larger blocks of text. Thus, the trend for presenting straight text is actually toward traditional type fonts.

Another trend is toward less clutter on a web page. Instead of crowded and cluttered pages, a single statement or concept, with “billboard” style of presentations of larger and bolder lettering and more empty space to make the main statement is one trend. The range is from large to huge letters that sometimes go off the edge of the page.

Layering is another trend, where the main set of letters is translucent, allowing another set of letters, backgrounds, 3D textures or imagery to show through.

Typographic or font face implementation is another trend that is based in the @font face CSS rule. This rule allows the freedom to use fonts that are not on the end user’s machines. In other words, more and more fonts, with nuances and more customizing are now available to cross platforms, browsers, and to get past the limited font selections on people’s home computers by using server resident CSS technology. Typekitis one of the @font face CSS based services that allows designers to choose from a vastly wider variety of fonts, and to focus on typography effects that will cross any barriers to provide universal readability.

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[color_box title="About the Author" variation="primary_blue"]Elizabeth M. Young

I promised myself that I would write a blog every day for a year. This started last November, and I haven’t stopped since. I publish most of my rough work at Open Salon as “Zumalicious”, at WordPress as Xenonlit, and at Blogger as Zumalicious at Blogger.

I’ve decided to put just my poetry and fiction here, as titles permit. I hope that you enjoy my work!

I am a former Air Force Officer, very sick and retired on disability, and have nothing but time to write. I have been an artist, and have completed some serious works. When I figure all of this out, I’ll put some pictures up.
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