This literature review charts the primary texts relating to principles for typographic design as well as other key texts relating to the formal visual language of design in general. Most texts relate specifically to printed typography because of the historical canon of scholarship available. Some of the more recent texts do address screen typography, but for the most part as an adjunct to a treatise on printed type (Baines & Haslam, and Lupton are such examples). There are a small number of books(Bellatoni and Wollman) that focus solely on screen typography.

In an effort to establish a comprehensive context for this research study, and in addition to the key area of research (typography: principles for practice), other areas of investigation were also considered vital to this literature review. The five areas for examination are:
1 Screen media;
2 Typographic technologies;
3 Typography: principles for practice;
4 Legibility and usability research;
5 Relevant disciplines: principles for practice.

Visual information design strategies were employed in this stage of the research to create a literature map in addition to the written analysis. The main objectives for creating this visual literature map were:
• to provide a visual overview of relevant material in the field;
• to gain insight into the chronological nature of publishing activity in the field;
• to illustrate how different thematic strands could be grouped;
• to help to illuminate critical relationships between these different strands.

Click on the thumbnail version to see an enlarged version. An interactive version is currently in development and will provide a tool for keeping the data in the map current.

I will shortly publish an edited version of the finding from the literature review.