Hierarchy
A visual hierarchy helps readers scan a text, knowing where to enter and exit and how to pick and choose among its offerings.
A typographic hierarchy expresses the organization of content, emphasizing some elements and subordinating others. A predicatable structure assists viewers understanding.
Each level of the hierarchy should be signaled by one or more cues, applied consistently across a body of text. A cue can be spatial (indent, line spacing, placement/orientation) or graphic (size, style, color). Infinite variations are possible.
emphasiscuesredundancy
Hierarchy
Emphasizing a word or phrase within a body of text usually requires only one signal. Italic is the standard form of emphasis. There are many alternatives, however, including boldface, small caps, or a change in color.
A full-range type family or Super Family has many weight and style variations designed to work together.
You can also create emphasis by mixing different fonts. Remember, if you want to mix font families, adjust the sizes so that the x-heights align.
Emphasis
Hierarchy
position
scale
weight
italics
case
type crime: too many signals — BOLD ITALIC UNDERLINED CAPS
In typography, some redundancy is acceptable, even recommended.
For example, paragraphs are traditionally marked with a line break and an indent, a redundancy that has proven quite practical, as each signal provides backup for the other.
To create an elegant economy of signals, try using no more than three cues for each level or break in a document.
Redundancy
Hierarchy
Int, ipit, officid ma natios et minusda quodist harchilit audanim utecate mporibusium nihitem oloreri tatemporum exeria aut fugit officitatem rempeRatur adic te nobis aut fuga. Ut laborec ullandae autaspient que niet explaborem faces sequo et maximi, tem as re cus reperibus fugit offiem rempelessunt harit. Tnihit alit estiur aut officiditam est, aspedis arunt res essum que officabori sedit fugiata tiantus maio. Sequi restorem nulparut.
Int, ipit, officid ma natios et minusda quodist harchilit audanim utecate mporibus.
Ratur adic te nobis aut fuga. Ut laborec ullandae autaspient que niet explaborem faces sequo et maximi, tem as rem exeria aut fugit officitatem rempelessunt harit
Tnihit alit estiur aut officiditam est, aspedis arunt res essum que officabori sedit fugiata tiantus maio. Sequi restorem qui berrovidebis exerum eaqui volut et que re.
redundancyHierarchy:
Line Breaks/Indents
Line Break (1/2 line inspace)
Int, ipit, officid ma natios et minusda quodist harchilit audanim utecate mporibusium nihitem oloreri tatemporum exeria aut fugit officitatem rempeRatur adic te nobis aut fuga.
Ut laborec ullandae autaspient que niet explaborem faces sequo et maximi, tem as re cus reperibus doluptaofficitatem rempelessunt harit
Tnihit alit estiur aut officiditam est, aspedis arunt res essum que officabori sedit fugiata tiantus maio. Sequi restorem nulparut.
Outdent
Int, ipit, officid ma natios et minusda quodist harchilit audanim utecate mporibus. Ratur adic te nobis aut fuga. Ut laborec ullandae autaspient que niet explaborem faces sequo et maximi, tem as re cus reperibus doluptat rercium nihitem olessunt harit Tnihit alit estiur aut officiditam est, aspedis arunt res essum que officabori sedit fugiata tiant tiantus maio. Sequi restorem qui berrovidebis exerum eaqui volut et que re consedit isque nulpario. Duntem nonsed qui tem nobit, unt accum alibus earum ut
No Indent or Line Break / Extra Space between paragraphs
Hierarchy: redundancy
Int, ipit, officid ma natios et minusda quodist harchilit audanim utecate mporibus.Ratur adic te nobis aut fuga. n Ut laborec ullandae autaspient que niet explaborem faces sequo et maximi, tem as re cus reperibus doluptat rercium nihitem oloreri tatemporum exeria aut fugit officitatem rempelessunt harit n Tnihit alit estiur aut officiditam est, aspedis arunt res essum que officabori sedit fugiata tiantus maio. n Sequi restorem qui berrovidebis exerum eaqui volut et que re consedit isque nulpario. Duntem nonsed qui tem nobit, unt accum alibus earum ut
No Indent or Line Break / Symbol
Int, ipit, officid ma natios et minusda quodist harchilit audanim utecate mporibus.Ratur adic te nobis aut fuga.
Ut laborec ullandae autaspient que niet explaborem faces sequo et maximi, tem as re cus reperibus doluptat rercium nihitem oloreri tatemporum exeria aut fugit officitatem rempelessunt harit
Tnihit alit estiur aut officiditam est, aspedis arunt res essum que officabori sedit fugiata tiantus maio. Sequi restorem qui berrovidebis exerum eaqui volut et que re consedit isque nulpario. Duntem nonsed qui tem nobit, unt accum alibus earum ut
type crime: too many signals —
Using paragraph spacing and indents together squanders space and gives the text block a flabby indefinite shape
Hierarchy
I Military Rank a. General b. Colonel c. Major d. Captain
e. Officer f. Private
II Ruling Body of Clergy a. Pope b. Cardinal c. Archbishop d. Bishop
III Parts of a Text a. Work b. Chapter c. Section d. Subsection e. Pages
Military Rank General Colonel Major Captain Officer Private
Ruling Body of Clergy Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop
Parts of a Text Work Chapter Section Subsection Pages
Military Rank General Colonel Major Captain Officer Private
Ruling Body of Clergy Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop
Parts of a Text Work Chapter Section Subsection Pages
General Colonel Major Captain Officer Private
Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop
Work Chapter Section Subsection
MIlITARy
RAnk
RulInG BOdy
Of CleRGy
PARTS Of
A TexT
Hierarchy
I Military Rank a. General b. Colonel c. Major d. Captain
e. Officer f. Private
II Ruling Body of Clergy a. Pope b. Cardinal c. Archbishop d. Bishop
III Parts of a Text a. Work b. Chapter c. Section d. Subsection e. Pages
Military Rank General Colonel Major Captain Officer Private
Ruling Body of Clergy Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop
Parts of a Text Work Chapter Section Subsection Pages
Military Rank General Colonel Major Captain Officer Private
Ruling Body of Clergy Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop
Parts of a Text Work Chapter Section Subsection Pages
General Colonel Major Captain Officer Private
Pope Cardinal Archbishop Bishop
Work Chapter Section Subsection
MIlITARy
RAnk
RulInG BOdy
Of CleRGy
PARTS Of
A TexT
symbolsindentsline breaks
indentsline breaks
font changeindentsline breaks
alignmentline breaks
Dimensional Hierarchy
Typography Across Three Dimensions : A visual hierarchy is necessary for objects in a series. Identity of the individual products as well as the overall brand. There is an additional challenge of legibility across planes and light.
Objects sit in an enviroment with other products and need to stand out but be harmonious to their neighbors.
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