Is typography a science, an art or a craft?
I am reading a book at the moment called detail in typography. It takes the interesting notion of describing typography not as an art or as a science, but rather a craft.
Typography in the beginning must have involved pretty hardcore mathematical principles. Using slabs of metal each carrying its own letter spacing to do individual letters. Calculating the letter spacing, line length and based on this, making decisions on what to hyphenate in lines and what to allow extra space for to avoid hyphenation. Each line must have been a challenge. It involved knowlege and expertise and a precision which is now commonly decided by computers. Describing typography in this sense it can bee looked at as a science based predominantly on rules.
But it can also be described as an art form. There is no doubt that typography requires an awareness of aesthetics. Following the rules can certainly help make something more legible, but the art of typography is to make something visually appealing and inviting. This too effects legibility in the broader sense. After all, in most cases type is only going to be read when combined with a desire of the viewer to read.
I like the idea typography as a craft. One dictionary described craft as ‘an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or skilled artistry’. Yes it requires a knowlege of the rules and principles. A technical awareness if you will. You must know what is aesthetically pleasing to entice the viewer. But it is something that requires great skill also. Ideally each line and word needs to be cared for. Decisions taken, judgement calls made. It requires time, precision and most importantly experience.
But the craft of typography is probably something that is disappearing. Reading this book on typographic detail made me realise the knowlege and detail that was once a given. With the aid of computers, this knowlege is no longer a standard. I think many typographers know the rules, and many produce beautiful typography. But few take into account the craft. The brain reads by scanning sections of letters and identifying individual letters. More concern is sometimes given to condensing line spacing to a minimum making it pleasing to look at as a whole, but not to scan and read effectively.
It is only with the knowlege of the principles of typography that we can make the required decisions and produce truly great typography. It is almost a lifestyle that involves a thirst for knowlege and producing every typographic piece with care and passion. I am by no means an expert, and too often get caught up in rushing a job out and not taking the care required. A craft however, requires this care at all times.