Effect of typeface complexity on automatic reading processes

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34314/mt0mvk69

Abstract

The introduction of variable fonts widened the possibilities for font applications and increased the ease with which typographers could manage their designs. Variable fonts enable typographers to easily manipulate letter characteristics that exist on a spectrum such as weight, width, or deviation from the neutral letter form. However, this fluidity may also increase visual complexity, which may contribute to the disfluency effect. This study explores the impact of typeface complexity on automatic reading processes using the well-known Stroop Colour and Word task. We show that automatic reading can be negatively affected by typefaces with extremely complex features, but that moderately complex typefaces have little effect. This suggests hard to read typefaces do impair word reading (i.e. they are disfluent) but that skilled readers are able to tolerate a high degree of complexity. It also highlights the utility of cognitive tests for identifying typefaces that are difficult to read.

Author Biographies

  • Myra Thiessen, Monash University

    Myra Lecturers in Communication Design in the Department of Design and is a researcher in the Design Health Collab at Monash University. Her research is focused on design for reading with a particular interest in how motivation, context, and environment affect comprehension and decision making in healthcare settings.

  • Hannah Keage, University of South Australia

    Hannah obtained her PhD from Flinders University, in South Australia. She undertook post-doctoral positions at the University of Cambridge between 2007 and 2011, before taking up an academic position at the University of South Australia (UniSA).  She is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at UniSA.

  • Indae Hwang, Monash University

    Indae is a Melbourne-based interactive artist and designer, researcher and lecturer in the Department of Design at Monash University. His teaching focuses on exploring new ways of embracing and utilising emerging media technologies in the context of User Experience and Interactive Design. 

  • Jack Astley, University of South Australia

    Jack completed his undergraduate and Honours degree in Psychological Science at the University of Adelaide. He is currently employed as a research assistant for the Cognitive Ageing and Impairment Neurosciences Laboratory, in addition to working as Data Analyst at Inventium, a behavioural science consultancy.

  • Sofie Beier, Royal Danish Academy

    Graphic designer and professor WSR, Sofie is employed at the Royal Danish Academy, where she is head of Centre for Visibility Design. She is the author of the ‘Type Tricks’ book series and of ‘Reading Letters: designing for legibility’. Her research is focused on improving the reading experience by achieving a better understanding of how different typefaces and letter shapes can influence the way we read.

Published

2025-05-28

Issue

Vol. 56 No. 3 (2022): December 2022

Section

Journal Article