Julie Janet How do lettershapes contribute to our perception of what we read? The question has always mattered but it assumes particular relevance in today’s context: that of a deluge of information where any text printed or displayed could be intentionally false or artificially made up, aimed at manipulating the person reading it.
Based on extensive research on the expressivity of lettershapes, a framework emerges for linking design decisions to readers’ perceptions and emotional responses. What do we read in the shapes and why? Can typefaces support the credibility of written information? How does it work?
From design to interpretation, lettershapes features carry meaning, often subconsciously, which makes them powerful and dangerous. Beyond mere branding, what is now at stake is no less than trustworthiness. Deconstructing the process of interpretation shows that it may be time to shift from designing for invisibility or neutrality to designing for emotion.