I just finished reading On Web Typography, the most recent offering from the fine folks over at A Book Apart. As is usually the case with books from this publisher, the material is presented in a brief, accessible and delightful format. And of course, I'm happy to pass along the recommendation.

The author, Jason Santa Maria does an excellent job of bringing the reader to a slow boil. He takes the necessary time setting the stage, reminding us of the important role history plays in the development of typography as a discipline. And then, with the backdrop properly in place he begins unpacking the nitty-gritty details we designers really dig. He explores the mechanics of how we read. He looks at the role typography plays in cognition. And finally he shares valuable insight on the current state of typography in the digital age.

Jason's work is full of actionable advise and he is quick to point the reader toward valuable resources we can leverage to create better products. But most importantly, Jason manifesto serves as a needed reminder of the critical role typography plays in the crafting of quality customer experiences. As web designers we can often take for granted the type we're designing with. We can, if not careful, fall into the trap of designing around the copy and forgetting that it is integral to the design dynamic. This book acts as a good reset to combat that kind of foolishness.

Having come through a recent redesign over at the company dotcom, I'm painfully aware of how big a chore getting your type right can be. Trust me, we spent no small amount of time working, reworking and finally settling on a type design ecosystem that would successfully carry our message and our brand across multiple channels. And to be honest, after reading this, there are several things I'm gonna want to revisit.

Here's a quick takeaway quote that sums up nicely the author's philosophy on typography.:

[box type="shadow"]All of typography is based upon a reflexive relationship: the small things inform the big things, and the big things inform the small things. The sum of this give and take means the difference between beautiful and forgettable.[/box]

If you're interested in learning more about typography or just want some tips on how to take your type skills to the next level, give Jason's book a read. A summary article and exerpt from chapter 1 can be accessed over at A list Apart.