Typography tips: Applying the Golden Ratio to enhance readability
Good typography is an essential part of any design. However, it takes more than just good font choices and sizes to create a well-designed typography. The use of the Golden Ratio is an age-old technique that designers and typographers use to create typography with excellent readability.
What is the Golden Ratio?
The Golden Ratio, also known as the divine proportion, is a mathematical ratio found in nature and is believed to be aesthetically pleasing to the human eye. The Golden Ratio, represented by the number 1.618, is a proportion that can be found when measuring the ratio between two quantities or sizes.
How can Golden Ratio improve typography?
When the Golden Ratio is applied in typography, it creates a balance between the type and surrounding white space, making the content easier to read. Here are some tips for applying the Golden Ratio in typography:
Use a font size that is at least 1.618 larger than the body text.
For example, if the body text is 10pt, the header should be 16.18pt or larger. This proportion creates a natural hierarchy in the text, making the header stand out without overpowering the body text.
Choose line-height that is at least 1.618 larger than the font size.
The line-height controls the vertical space between lines of text. When the line-height is larger than the font, it creates enough spacing between lines, ensuring readability. For example, if the header is 16.18pt, the line-height should be at least 26.18pt.
Use margins that align to the Golden Ratio.
Margins are essential in typography as they create white space around the text, giving it room to breathe. When margins are aligned to the Golden Ratio, it creates a natural balance between the content and surrounding space. For example, if the body text width is 500px, the margin should be 308.9px on one side and 191.1px on the other.
Conclusion
Incorporating the Golden Ratio in typography is a simple yet effective way to create visually appealing and readable content. By using appropriate font sizes, line-heights, and margins that align with the Golden Ratio, designers can create typography that engages readers and communicates information with ease.