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Week 3: Typography Essay

Understanding Words Presentation
Renata Alexander
September 18, 2016
COM 30563 Visual Communications
Ottawa University

Running head: TYPOGRAPHY

Understanding Words Presentation

For over a year now, every week, I publish a new blog post on my own personal website.
The blog acts as an autobiographical platform. I begin each post with a quote because I love
words. In fact, words are part of the reason why I chose to study communications. I used to only
put the quote in bold text as the introduction. Now, I use pictures of quotes. Sometimes, I use one
from the internet. Other times, I create one myself. It is through my own experiences as a blogger
I can say, without a doubt, yes, How words are presented are just as important as what those
words are (Lester, 2014, p. 153).
Almost every week, I spend more time finding or creating a quote that matches my needs
and purposes than I do writing the blog content. The visual process is important to me. Color,
text, simplicity, or the lack there of it, all matter to me. It is the reason why I choose brighter,
more colorful images and text when discussing light topics on my blog. It is the reason why I
choose bolder images and colors when discussing heavier topics. For example, here is my
husbands favorite image I have used. It is one I created (Alexander, 2016).

Before I even finish a blog, I have a fairly good idea of what I want to create to get my message
across. The above photo was for a post about Gods faithfulness and ability to carry me through a
deep trial in my life (Alexander, 2016). It was one of the many heavier posts I published because

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of life circumstances at the moment. I wanted the overall image to be strong, yet honest. I wanted
it to show that life is filled with a lot of ugly and beautiful moments. I wanted the words I chose
to say, God was present and in control.
I do not know if I completely accomplished it with the image. However, I do know the
text needed to be simple alongside a bold image. The simple, yet apparent text states that Gods
Word is powerful in the deepest, subtlest ways. That is why, like in the image presented, and in
most other blog posts, I use a serif font. It provides slight detail without being decorative, hard to
read, or obtrusive like a blackletter, script, or miscellaneous font (Lester, 2014, p. 163; p. 165). I
do not want my typography presentation to overpower the content I pair it with (Lester, 2014, p.
237).
When I think of all my time and effort in finding or creating the correct image to tell my
story, I think of John Turkeys quote, The greatest value of a picture is when it forces us to
notice what we never expected to see (Lester, 2014, p. 228). Turkey acknowledges images are
powerful. Furthermore, those same powerful images can work with words to create a lasting
message. Words and images do not have to fight each other. Rather, they can work with each
other (McDandless, 2010). Together, they are meant to be noticed. Together, they are meant to
challenge and provide insight (McDandless, 2010). I do not take the time to create or choose an
image for my own benefit. I want it to help tell the story I present on the blog. I want to create a
reaction in my readership. I do not want to go unnoticed or glazed over. Unfortunately, as Lester
(2014) pointed out, most of the time, artistic intentions do, in fact, go unnoticed (p. 153).
How words are presented matters. It is important because words within an image or idea,
created with the proper tools and methods, go beyond telling something. They show what a word
means, just as Tim Harrower suggested with information presentation, When we want

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information, we say show medo not tell me. The same can be said for words. One does not
have to read the dictionary definition to understand what a word means and the connotations that
follow if it is visually presented wisely and carefully.
Typography and how a word is presented are successful, when the text choices match
the expectations of an intended audience (Lester, p. 2014, p. 175). Typography and how a word
is presented are successful when it acts an enhancement and helps the reader understand the
intended message, not distract and confuse (Lester, 2014, p. 153; p. 238; Suleman, 2012).
Typography is important. It simply is. Without it, my blog would not be as powerful. Without it,
public service announcements would not be as powerful. Without it, the written word and images
would not be such a cohesive, necessary pair in effective everyday communication.

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5
References

Alexander, R. Faithful and true: God will carry me through. Digital image.
coffeesoothesthesoul. WordPress. 12 May 2016. Web. 17 September 2016.
Lester, P. (2014). Visual Communications: Images with Messages. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage
Learning.
McCandless, D. (2010). The beauty of data visualization. TED-Ed.
Suleman, B. (2012). Infographics: How to Strike the Elusive Balance between Data and
Visualization. The Daily Egg.