Responsive Web Typography @ Smashingconf Oxford

Responsive Web Design done correctly is based upon content rather than actual device resolutions, and so typography should adapt to both layout and sizing across content breakpoints.

However, mere font sizing along the typographic scale based upon two-dimensional viewport @media queries is not enough.

Apart from setting the correct balance of the black and the white in letterforms and texts, there are other important factors such as reading distance, information density, screen sharpness and device orientation that also influence the reading process.

Learn to look at typography multidimensionally and enhance the overall responsive experience.

Transcript

1. RESPONSIVE WEB TYPOGRAPHY Marko Dugonjić @markodugonjic ! Oxford, 2014
2. @markodugonjic
4. Creative Nights
6. MENU
   —
   Variables
   Tools
   Experiments
   Process
7. — THE PROBLEM —
12. :/
13. media queries
    flexible layouts
    flexible images Responsive Experience
14. VARIABLES of the
    RESPONSIVE READING EXPERIENCE
    —
    reading distance
    viewport width (and height)
    content hierarchy
    information density
    pixel density
    device orientation
    screen aspect ratio
15. NARROW WIDE BIG SMALL TIM BROWN
    h p://vimeo.com/56276418 FINE COARSE
16. NARROW WIDE FINE COARSE BIG SMALL TIM BROWN
    h p://vimeo.com/56276418
17. SMARTPHONES
    ! Close reading
    Small screen
    HiDPI screen
    Single column
    Low information density
    Variable orientation
    Many aspect ratios DESKTOPS ! Distant reading Large screen Coarse screen Multiple columns High information density Fixed orientation A few aspect ratios
18. 1
    READING DISTANCE
19. 0,26mm 1,3mm 71cm 350cm
20. Y X ?
22. // concept code
    ! if (distance < 30) {
    body.className = 'close';
    }
    ! if (distance > 30 && distance < 50) {
    body.className = 'medium';
    }
    ! if (distance > 50) {
    body.className = 'far';
    }
23. * { margin: 0; padding: 0; } ! body {
    font-size: 100%;
    line-height: 1.5;
    } ! p {
    margin-bottom: 1.5em;
    /* = line-height */
    ! max-width: 38em;
    /* 30–38em */
    }
25. 2
    VIEWPORT WIDTH
26. Anything from 45 to 75 characters is widely regarded as a satisfactory length of line for a single-column page set in a serifed text face in a text size. The 66- character line (counting both le ers and spaces) is widely regarded as ideal. For multiple column work, a be er average is 40 to 50 characters.
    ! ROBERT BRINGHURST
    h p://webtypography.net/Rhythm_and_Proportion/Horizontal_Motion/2.1.2/ “
27. ideal 66 max 75 min 45 < 40 chars screen width: 320px
28. Breakpoints should not be dictated by devices, but by content. Let the content decide when to expand and then adjust your designs.
    ! JEREMY KEITH
    h p://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1393 “
29. Breakpoints should not be dictated by devices*, but by content. Let the cont*ent decide when to expand and then adjust your designs.
    ! HAT TIP TRENT WALTON
    h p://trentwalton.com/2012/06/19/fluid-type/ “
30. @media only screen and (min-width: 37.5em) { }
    /* 600px */ ! @media only screen and (min-width: 50em) { }
    /* 800px */
    ! @media only screen and (min-width: 62.5em) { }
    /* 1000px */ LYZA GARDNER
    h p://blog.cloudfour.com/the-ems-have-it-proportional-media-queries- w/
31. Line height for each breakpoint is adjusted according to the line length rendered at that breakpoint. Short line lengths require tighter line spacing, because the reader’s eye doesn’t have to travel much to reach the next line of text. As line length gets longer, more line spacing is required. Line height for each breakpoint is adjusted according to the line length rendered at that breakpoint. Short line lengths require tighter line spacing, because the reader’s eye doesn’t have to travel much to reach the next line of text. As line length gets longer, more line spacing is required. Line height for each breakpoint is adjusted according to the line length rendered at that breakpoint. Short line lengths require tighter line spacing, because the reader’s eye doesn’t have to travel much to reach the next line of text. As line length gets longer, more line spacing is required.
32. Line height for each breakpoint is adjusted according to the line length rendered at that breakpoint. Short line lengths require tighter line spacing, because the reader’s eye doesn’t have to travel much to reach the next line of text. As line length gets longer, more line spacing is required. Line height for each breakpoint is adjusted according to the line length rendered at that breakpoint. Short line lengths require tighter line spacing, because the reader’s eye doesn’t have to travel much to reach the next line of text. As line length gets longer, more line spacing is required.
33. Line height for each breakpoint is adjusted according to the line length rendered at that breakpoint. Short line lengths require tighter line spacing, because the reader’s eye doesn’t have to travel much to reach the next line of text. As line length gets longer, more line spacing is required. ! qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq dddddddddddddddddddddddddd Line height for each breakpoint is adjusted according to the line length rendered at that breakpoint. Short line lengths require tighter line spacing, because the reader’s eye doesn’t have to travel much to reach the next line of text. As line length gets longer, more line spacing is required. ! jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj jjjjjjjjj ŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠ q d j Š
34. /* under 45 chars */
    body { line-height: 1.4 }
    p { margin-bottom: 1.4em }
    ! /* 45–60 chars */
    body { line-height: 1.45 }
    p { margin-bottom: 1.45em }
    ! /* 60–75 chars */
    body { line-height: 1.5 }
    p { margin-bottom: 1.5em }
36. /* vendor prefix omitted code */
    ! body { background-image: linear-gradient(top,
    #fff 0, #fff 95%, #f00 95%, #f00 100%);
    ! background-repeat: repeat;
    background-size: 24px 24px;
    }
37. /* short line lengths */
    body {
    line-height: 1.4em;
    background-size: 100% 1.4em;
    } ! /* medium line lengths */
    body {
    line-height: 1.45em;
    background-size: 100% 1.45em;
    } ! /* long line lengths */
    body {
    line-height: 1.5em;
    background-size: 100% 1.5em;
    }
38. Molten leading
    nicewebtype.com/notes/2012/02/03/molten-leading-or-fluid-line-height/
39. $('p').moltenLeading({ minline: 1.4, maxline: 1.7 }); MAT MARQUIS
    h ps://github.com/Wilto/Molten-Leading
40. LINE SPACE letter space, word spac, line space LETTER SPACE WORD SPACE LINE SPACE
41. letter space, word spac, line space LETTER SPACE WORD SPACE LINE SPACE
43. @media only screen
    and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5) {
    p { /*
    font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.5;
    */ letter-spacing: .01em; word-spacing: .01em; } }
    ! /* vendor prefix omitted code */
46. 3
    HIERARCHY
47. w e b t y p o g r p h y T h a n k y o u f o r t h e l o v e l y i n t r o d u c t i o n , R a f a l ! P l e a s e g i v e a w a r m r o u n d o f a p p l a u s e t o t h e o r g a n i z e r s . L e t m e a s k y o u s o m e t h i n g … H a v e y o u e v e r s a v e d a n a r t i c l e w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n t o r e a d i t l a t e r o n a m o b i l e d e v i c e i n t h e p a r k a s s u m i n g t h a t i t s r e s p o n s i v e w e b d e s i g n i s a l l i t t a k e s f o r t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e r e a d i n g e x p e r i e n c e ? H a v e y o u e v e r b e e n d i s a p p o i n t e d w h e n y o u r e a l i z e d t h a t a r t i c l e s o n m o b i l e a r e h a r d t o r e a d b e c a u s e o f t h e p o o r l y c h o s e n l e t t e r s i z e a n d l a y o u t t h a t a p p e a r t o b e d i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e s c r e e n ? S o , w h y i s t h i s h a p p e n i n g ? H o w d o s u c h , o t h e r w i s e b e a u t i f u l r e s p o n s i v e d e s i g n s , e n d u p b e i n g s o p o o r l y e x e c u t e d o n m o b i l e ? T h e a n s w e r i s i n f a c t q u i t e c l e a r — s u c h w e b s i t e s w e r e d e v e l o p e d o n t h e d e s k t o p c o m p u t e r , w i t h d e s k t o p r e a d i n g d i s t a n c e , w i t h a _ d e s k t o p d o w n _ , r a t h e r t h a n a _ m o b i l e u p _ a p p r o a c h . I t ’ s o b v i o u s t h a t t h e c o r e r e s p o n s i v e w e b d e s i g n a r s e n a l o f m e d i a q u e r i e s , f l e x i b l e l a y o u t s a n d f l e x i b l e i m a g e s i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t . w e b t y p o g r p h y a j s d h j a h s g d T h a n k y o u f o r t h e l o v e l y i n t r o d u c t i o n , R a f a l ! P l e a s e g i v e a w a r m r o u n d o f a p p l a u s e t o t h e o r g a n i z e r s . L e t m e a s k y o u s o m e t h i n g … H a v e y o u e v e r s a v e d a n a r t i c l e w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n t o r e a d i t l a t e r o n a m o b i l e d e v i c e i n t h e p a r k a s s u m i n g t h a t i t s r e s p o n s i v e w e b d e s i g n i s a l l i t t a k e s f o r t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e r e a d i n g e x p e r i e n c e ? H a v e y o u e v e r b e e n d i s a p p o i n t e d w h e n y o u r e a l i z e d t h a t a r t i c l e s o n m o b i l e a r e h a r d t o r e a d b e c a u s e o f t h e p o o r l y c h o s e n l e t t e r s i z e a n d l a y o u t t h a t a p p e a r t o b e d i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e s c r e e n ? S o , w h y i s t h i s h a p p e n i n g ? H o w d o s u c h , o t h e r w i s e b e a u t i f u l r e s p o n s i v e d e s i g n s , e n d u p b e i n g s o p o o r l y e x e c u t e d o n m o b i l e ? T h e a n s w e r i s i n f a c t q u i t e c l e a r — s u c h w e b s i t e s w e r e d e v e l o p e d o n t h e d e s k t o p c o m p u t e r , w i t h d e s k t o p r e a d i n g d i s t a n c e , w i t h a _ d e s k t o p d o w n _ , r a t h e r t h a n a _ m o b i l e u p _ a p p r o a c h . I t ’ s o b v i o u s t h a t t h e c o r e r e s p o n s i v e w e b d e s i g n a r s e n a l o f m e d i a q u e r i e s , f l e x i b l e l a y o u t s a n d f l e x i b l e i m a g e s i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t . # # M A N Y M O R E V A R I A B L E S A p a r t f r o m t h e o b v i o u s v a r i a b l e s — v i e w p o r t w i d t h a n d v i e w p o r t h e i g h t — t h e r e a r e o t h e r s , s u c h a s r e a d i n g d i s t a n c e , p i x e l d e n s i t y ( o r s c r e e n c r u d e n e s s ) , d e v i c e o r i e n t a t i o n a n d v i e w p o r t a s p e c t r a t i o , b u t a l s o t h e c o n t e n t h i e r a r c h y a n d i n f o r m a t i o n d e n s i t y . B e f o r e I e l a b o r a t e e a c h , l e t m e b r i e f l y e x p l a i n t h e r u l e s o f t h e p a r a g r a p h . # # # R e a d i n g d i s t a n c e T h e r e a r e t h r e e w h i t e s p a c e s i n s i d e t h e p a r a g r a p h t h a t a r e i n t e r d e p e n d e n t — t h e l e t t e r s p a c e , t h e w o r d s p a c e a n d t h e l i n e s p a c e . I f a n y o f t h e t h r e e i s c h a n g e d , a l l t h e o t h e r s s h o u l d b e r e a s s e s s e d , t o o . B y p r e s e r v i n g t h e w h i t e s p a c e h i e r a r c h y , w e c a n
48. 16 18 21 24 36 48 60 72
49. 16 18 21 24 36 48
50. 16 18 21 24 36 48
51. 16 18 21 24 36 48
52. /* short reading distance */
    p { font-size: 1rem; /* 16px */ }
    h3 { font-size: 1.125rem; /* 18px */ }
    h2 { font-size: 1.312rem; /* 21px */ }
    h1 { font-size: 1.5rem; /* 24px */ }
    ! /* medium reading distance */
    p { font-size: 1.125rem; /* 18px */ }
    h3 { font-size: 1.312rem; /* 21px */ }
    h2 { font-size: 1.5rem; /* 24px */ }
    h1 { font-size: 2.25rem; /* 36px */ }
    ! /* long reading distance */
    p { font-size: 1.312rem; /* 21px */ }
    h3 { font-size: 1.5rem; /* 24px */ }
    h2 { font-size: 2.25rem; /* 36px */ }
    h1 { font-size: 3rem; /* 48px */ }
53. 16 24 36 54 81 122
54. h p://www.modularscale.com
55. STYLE OPTIONS
    ! ! ALL CAPS SUBHEAD H2
    ! SMALL CAPS SUBHEAD H3
    ! Italic Subhead H4
56. SUBHEAD ONE Subhead Two SUBHEAD THREE On the opposite side, instead of progressively increasing font size for each heading level, especially as we now have such a vast selection of web fonts available and fonts are rendered with much more detail than before, we can use italics, small caps and all caps at the same letter size to establish text hierarchy. Add bolds into the mix, and you have a palette of at least
57. /* alternative small caps rules */
    ! h3 {
    font-family: small-caps-typeface;
    text-transform: lowercase;
    }
    h3 {
    font-feature-settings: "smcp"; /* OpenType */
    text-transform: lowercase;
    }
    h3 {
    font-weight: 500; /* if the weight exists */
    font-size: 80%; /* give or take */
    text-transform: uppercase;
    letter-spacing: .125em;
    }
    
58. Se ing Subheads with CSS
    h p://blog.typekit.com/2013/07/25/se ing-subheads-with-css/
59. h p://webdesign.maratz.com/lab/subheads/
60. 4
    INFORMATION DENSITY
61. 1 1 2 1 2
62. R e s p o n s i v e W e b T y p o g r a p h y T h a n k y o u f o r t h e l o v e l y i n t r o d u c t i o n , R a f a l ! P l e a s e g i v e a w a r m r o u n d o f a p p l a u s e t o t h e o r g a n i z e r s . R e s p o n s i v e W e b T y p o g r a p h y T h a n k y o u f o r t h e l o v e l y i n t r o d u c t i o n , R a f a l ! P l e a s e g i v e a w a r m r o u n d o f a p p l a u s e t o t h e o r g a n i z e r s . L e t m e a s k y o u s o m e t h i n g … H a v e y o u e v e r s a v e d a n a r t i c l e w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n t o r e a d i t l a t e r o n a m o b i l e d e v i c e i n t h e p a r k a s s u m i n g t h a t i t s r e s p o n s i v e w e b d e s i g n i s a l l i t t a k e s f o r t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e r e a d i n g e x p e r i e n c e ? H a v e y o u e v e r b e e n d i s a p p o i n t e d w h e n y o u r e a l i z e d t h a t a r t i c l e s o n m o b i l e org izers izer izmn kjla9 jsf lkfo jfa R e s p o n s i v e W e b T y p o g r a p h y T h a n k y o u f o r t h e l o v e l y i n t r o d u c t i o n , R a f a l ! P l e a s e g i v e a w a r m r o u n d o f a p p l a u s e t o t h e o r g a n i z e r s . L e t m e a s k y o u s o m e t h i n g … H a v e y o u e v e r s a v e d a n a r t i c l e w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n t o r e a d i t l a t e r o n a m o b i l e d e v i c e i n t h e p a r k a s s u m i n g t h a t i t s r e s p o n s i v e w e b d e s i g n i s a l l i t t a k e s f o r t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e r e a d i n g e x p e r i e n c e ? H a v e y o u e v e r b e e n d i s a p p o i n t e d w h e n y o u r e a l i z e d t h a t a r t i c l e s o n m o b i l e a r e h a r d t o r e a d b e c a u s e o f t h e p o o r l y c h o s e n l e t t e r s i z e a n d l a y o u t t h a t a p p e a r t o b e d i s p r o p o r t i o n a l t o t h e s c r e e n ? S o , w h y i s t h i s h a p p e n i n g ? H o w d o s u c h , o t h e r w i s e b e a u t i f u l r e s p o n s i v e d e s i g n s , e n d u p b e i n g s o p o o r l y e x e c u t e d o n m o b i l e ? T h e a n s w e r i s i n f a c t q u i t e c l e a r — s u c h w e b s i t e s w e r e d e v e l o p e d o n 1 1 2 1 2 organizersj hjhgorganiz ersorga organizersj hjhgorganiz ersorga organizersj hjhgorganiz ersorga organizersj hjhgorganiz ersorga organizersj hjhgorganiz ersorga organizersj hjhgorganiz ersorga organizersj hjhgorganiz ersorga
63. LESS
    INFORMATION
    ! – style variations
    – indented paragraphs
    – white space MORE INFORMATION ! – typographic scale – block paragraphs – graphic elements
65. 5
    PIXEL DENSITY
66. h p://www.fontbureau.com/ReadingEdge/
69. h p://www.typonine.com
70. iA ALL, EXCEPT RETINA RETINA LANDSCAPE RETINA PORTRAIT h p://ia.net/blog/responsive-typography/
71. @font-face {
    font-family: 'Typeface Name';
    src: url('Grade-A.woff') format('woff');
    }
    @media ... and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5) {
    @font-face {
    font-family: 'Typeface Name';
    src: url('Grade-B.woff') format('woff');
    }
    }
    @media ... and (min-device-pixel-ratio: 1.5)
    and (orientation: portrait) {
    @font-face {
    font-family: 'Typeface Name';
    src: url('Grade-C.woff') format('woff');
    }
    }
72. Comprehensive list of graded fonts
    h p://typophile.com/node/81483
73. 6
    DEVICE ORIENTATION
74. HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’? HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’?
75. HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’? HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’?
76. HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’? HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’?
78. HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’? HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’?
79. HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’? HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’?
80. HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’? HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’?
81. HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’? HEY, HANDSOME! HOW YOU DOIN’?
82. HANDSOME! HANDSOME!
83. /* Illustration purpose code */
    ! @media ... and (orientation: portrait) {
    h1 {
    font-family: 'Typeface Width Variant';
    letter-spacing: -.1em;
    }
    }
    ! @media ... and (orientation: landscape) {
    h1 {
    font-family: 'Typeface Width Variant';
    letter-spacing: .1em;
    }
    }
86. ! ! – DIN
    – Franklin Gothic
    – Frutiger
    – Futura
    – Georgia Pro
    – Gill Sans
    – Helvetica
    – JAF Bernino ! ! – Minion Pro – Myriad Pro – Nimbus Sans – Open Sans – Proxima Nova – Roboto – Univers – … WEB FONTS available in multiple widths:
87. 7
    SCREEN ASPECT RATIO
89. h p://bradfrost.github.io/this-is-responsive/index.html
90. — ALMOST DONE —
91. reading distance
    width and height
    content hierarchy
    information density
    pixel density
    device orientation
    screen aspect ratio
93. ! ! – reading distance
    – screen width
    – content hierarchy
    – information density
    – pixel density
    – device orientation
    – screen aspect ratio ! ! – device – environment – time – activity – individual – location – social CONTEXT IS MULTIFACETED CENNYDD BOWLES
    h p://www.cennydd.co.uk/2013/designing-with-context
95. THANKS!
    ! Marko Dugonjić @markodugonjic
96. Credits
    ! Rhythm and Proportion, Robert Bringhurst,
    h p://webtypography.net/Rhythm_and_Proportion/Horizontal_Motion/2.1.2/
    ! Inside Paragraphs, Cyrus Highsmith,
    h p://insideparagraphs.com
    ! Graded fonts, Typophile,
    h p://typophile.com/node/81483
    ! Responsive Typography, The Basics, Information Architects,
    h p://informationarchitects.net/blog/responsive-typography-the-basics/
    ! Wrist, Palm, Lap, Desk, Wall, Luke Wroblewski,
    h ps://twi er.com/lukew/status/273453112902172672
    ! The EMs have it: Proportional Media Queries FTW!, Lyza Gardner,
    h p://blog.cloudfour.com/the-ems-have-it-proportional-media-queries- w/
    ! Photo: Empty park bench
    h p://www.flickr.com/photos/jonasb/21755140/
    ! Photo: Golden wedding
    h p://www.flickr.com/photos/crabchick/4056045781/