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I still hold the opinion that good typography and simple layout beats semi-interactive animated pages made up of static content (ie: graphs with real time updat

I still hold the opinion that good typography and simple layout beats semi-interactive animated pages made up of static content (ie: graphs with real time update).

magnet_ball 12y ago
People always say that good typography beats everything but I have yet to see anyone explain typography more than the "use serifs for this and use sans serifs for that".
- coob 12y ago
  A handy guide: http://practicaltypography.com/typography-in-ten-minutes.html http://practicaltypography.com/typography-in-ten-minutes.htm...
- sheraz 12y ago
  Typography is a big topic, but a good introduction is "Stop Stealing Sheep and Find out How Type works" by Erik Spiekermann [1] It is an especially good read for non-designers, though I've given several copies to interns. [1] - http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Edition-Graphic-Communication-Courses/dp/0321934288 http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Edition-Graphic-Communication...
- qznc 12y ago
  More simple statements: * The longer the line the more space between lines * Do not to mix font families * Do not use fancy fonts * You should probably give things more space around * Use left aligned text, not justified Of course, such rules are too simple. They have exception, implications, corollaries, and conflict with each other. Balancing this out is the art of typography.
- crisnoble 12y ago
  Jason Santa Maria's new book from A Book Apart, On Web Typography, helped me as a non designer really understand good typography. I still cannot necessarily create good typography like the masters but I can now recognize it. http://www.abookapart.com/products/on-web-typography http://www.abookapart.com/products/on-web-typography
jalfresi 12y ago
Agreed. A single chart clearly illustrating the point you are trying to make vs. an interactive do-hickey that I have to twat about with and then infer meaning from, IMHO shows a huge disrespect for time of the audience. After all, its the authors responsibility to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively; no one is entitled to an audience. I wish more documents/spreadsheets/presentations understood this.
- fphhotchips 12y ago
  As always, it depends on context. I have people who will read my reports and ask endless questions about the data that I can't foresee. These are the people who will appreciate the interactive tool - it allows them to view the data in the way that gives them the most meaning. On the other hand, sometimes I need to persuasively illustrate a singular point, as you say. In this case, a single non-interactive but stylish and easily interpreted representation fits better.

I still hold the opinion that good typography and simple layout beats semi-interactive animated pages made up of static content (ie: graphs with real time update).

magnet_ball 12y ago

People always say that good typography beats everything but I have yet to see anyone explain typography more than the "use serifs for this and use sans serifs for that".

coob 12y ago
A handy guide: http://practicaltypography.com/typography-in-ten-minutes.html http://practicaltypography.com/typography-in-ten-minutes.htm...
sheraz 12y ago
Typography is a big topic, but a good introduction is "Stop Stealing Sheep and Find out How Type works" by Erik Spiekermann [1] It is an especially good read for non-designers, though I've given several copies to interns. [1] - http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Edition-Graphic-Communication-Courses/dp/0321934288 http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Edition-Graphic-Communication...
qznc 12y ago
More simple statements: * The longer the line the more space between lines * Do not to mix font families * Do not use fancy fonts * You should probably give things more space around * Use left aligned text, not justified Of course, such rules are too simple. They have exception, implications, corollaries, and conflict with each other. Balancing this out is the art of typography.
crisnoble 12y ago
Jason Santa Maria's new book from A Book Apart, On Web Typography, helped me as a non designer really understand good typography. I still cannot necessarily create good typography like the masters but I can now recognize it. http://www.abookapart.com/products/on-web-typography http://www.abookapart.com/products/on-web-typography

jalfresi 12y ago

Agreed. A single chart clearly illustrating the point you are trying to make vs. an interactive do-hickey that I have to twat about with and then infer meaning from, IMHO shows a huge disrespect for time of the audience. After all, its the authors responsibility to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively; no one is entitled to an audience. I wish more documents/spreadsheets/presentations understood this.

fphhotchips 12y ago
As always, it depends on context. I have people who will read my reports and ask endless questions about the data that I can't foresee. These are the people who will appreciate the interactive tool - it allows them to view the data in the way that gives them the most meaning. On the other hand, sometimes I need to persuasively illustrate a singular point, as you say. In this case, a single non-interactive but stylish and easily interpreted representation fits better.