The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web

Serifs, sans serifs, baselines, kerning, leading, rhythm, contrast, readability, hierarchy. These are all concepts that trained graphic designers who specialize in print are well aware of, but seldom applied to the web. Why is that? For a start, setting type online can be rather tedious and unpredictable. It’s also something not often taught to web developers as they focus on learning the complicated coding platforms they must use to publish websites.

If you’ve had much training in graphic design, you’ve surely heard of and studied Robert Bringhurst’s classic opus The Elements of Typographic Style. Thankfully, Richard Rutter decided it was time to apply the same principles found in Bringhurst’s book to an online guide, called The Elements of Typographic Style Applied to the Web. With the recent improvements of operating systems, browsers, monitors and of course CSS, there is no longer any reason to use technology as an excuse. Even the future of web standards is addressed, such as CSS3, and practicality is ever present with workarounds, alternatives and compromises for less able browsers.