In this episode of the Smashing Podcast, we’re talking about variable fonts. What are they, how do they differ from regular fonts, and how can they help in the design and performance of our websites? Drew McLellan speaks to a font of knowledge on the matter, Jason Pamental.
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Today, Tom Čakloš will show you how to create limits and rules to follow throughout the entire design process. There is an unlimited number of ways in which you can combine elements in a user interface. You may be struggling with all of the possibilities and trying to pick the best option among many “correct” options. This article is intended for beginner UI designers who want to learn how to make their designs more consistent and user-friendly. You don’t need a lot of experience in order to be able to follow the tips and tricks shared in it, so let’s dig in right away!
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If you’re looking for a useful free font with a bit of an edge, look no further than this collection of modern typefaces. These sleek and versatile fonts are perfect for all sorts of designs, from websites to printed material, and they are all completely free for both personal and commercial use. To facilitate your font picking and pairing process, Noemi Stauffer included examples of how these typefaces have been put to use recently, as well as a few pairing ideas. Enjoy!
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Are you considering transforming old cursive handwriting into a modern digital font? Before forging ahead with the design, assess your goals for historical accuracy, identify the idiosyncrasies that make the handwriting special, develop a strategy for connecting glyphs, and decide if you want to include texture. One of the biggest decisions you will need to make is whether you want to capture every nuance of your handwriting specimen, or if you want to design something inspired by that handwriting. Today, Carolyn Porter will help you with that. Let the fun begin!
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In terms of how to handle typography in mobile web design, it appears that simpler and safer works best. In this article, Suzanne Scacca will break down the elements you need to pay attention to in mobile typography and then visit what the research says about how to handle them. She will give you a brief summary of what it is we know about typography in web design, and then see what UX experts and tests have been able to reveal about using typography for mobile.
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Windows, macOS and Linux made up font-wise, and since then, all modern fonts have been compatible across those OS’. There’s no question, the future of web typography looks promising. At the 2016 ATypI conference, the world’s biggest type design conference, Microsoft, Google, Apple and Adobe announced that they have been working on a new iteration of the OpenType standard, called variable fonts. Because it gives a lot more control to the user to modify the typeface depending on the context and device, this new version opens new opportunities for web typography and will close the gap in quality between web and print. In this article, François Poizat will show you the ins and outs of these new tools and how to take control of our typography.
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As an educator, Alma Hoffmann has learned that one of the most challenging aspects for an aspiring left-hand letterer is to apply everything that a right-handed person is teaching. It is almost like doing mental gymnastics. In this article, she will help you get started with the fundamentals of lettering with the left hand: the position and placement of the arm and wrist, the position of the paper, and holding the tool (brush pens). Alma will share theoretical as well as practical advice, demonstrating some points using her student Talondra Keeton, who is left-handed, to create lettering. She started back in January, and throughout the semester she has been consistently improving. Let’s get started.
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When working with creative designers on web page designs, it’s fairly common to receive multiple Sketch or Photoshop artboards/layouts, one for each breakpoint. In this article, Jake Wilson is going to examine how to create scalable, fluid typography across multiple breakpoints and predefined font sizes using well-supported browser features and some basic algebra. The best part is that you can automate it all by using Sass.
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Are you a designer wanting to dive in the art of drawing letters but feel overwhelmed with the options on where to start? In this article, Alma Hoffmann shares her journey as a learner and helps you to get started by sharing tips, practical advice, how-to videos and freebies. A little spoiler alert: Practice makes progress.
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Hand lettering, calligraphy, and really anything that is graphic and handmade is in increasingly resurgence. In this article, Alma Hoffmann will discuss brush lettering, its definition, its context, and the supplies you will need to get started. This is the first part of two articles which aim to provide you with a good foundation of why lettering is more than just drawing pretty letters and explains the principles behind the practice. Alma believes that knowing why we do things is important because it helps us create a mindful practice.
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