The Case for Legibility

In an age of computer typesetting and lightning-fast printing, and of continuous efforts to hold down ever-soaring costs, the risk of eroding the legibility of the printed word increases every day. But does legibility matter? John Ryder believes that, since it is self-evidently of paramount importance to the reader, legibility must also be the guiding principle of the typographer. His own work over many years is a convincing demonstration that legibility and elegance go hand in hand. In The Case for Legibility, Ryder makes a strong plea for the recognition and maintenance of this central principle and discusses its application to the whole process of designing a book, from the choice of a typeface for the text setting to such finish touches as margins, headlines, and folios. He illustrates his points with numerous examples. The Case for Legibility is a personal statement of great sincerity and conviction by one of the foremost practitioners of the book arts. It deserves a place or prominence on the bookshelf of every typographic designer.