100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Fast Overnight NZ-wide Delivery 🚀

Universal Principles of Typography

100 Key Concepts for Choosing and Using Type
4.18 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 22 ratings, 9 reviews)
Brief Description
We communicate with text every single day, but what does it mean to really understand type—to use it with clear intent and purpose? The art and science of typography combines subtle tweaks to line lengths with harmonious combinations of weights and styles; considered typeface pairings with... Read More
Format: Hardback
$7999
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Universal Principles of Typography is a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary encyclopedia for choosing and using type.Explore 100 key concepts, theories, and guidelines that are critical for choosing and using type.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

We communicate with text every single day, but what does it mean to really understand type—to use it with clear intent and purpose? The art and science of typography combines subtle tweaks to line lengths with harmonious combinations of weights and styles; considered typeface pairings with a robust set of alternate characters; exciting technological advances with the realities of font licensing. There are so many ways designers can optimise how text is read and influence the way its message is understood—and yet so many designers miscommunicate without even realising it.

Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, Universal Principles of Typography pairs clear explanations of each principle with visual examples of it applied in practice. By considering these concepts and examples, you can learn to make more informed, and ultimately better, typography decisions.

Building upon tried-and-tested principles from the world of print through to the very latest advances in browser technology, this book will equip you with everything you need to make the most informed typographic decisions in your design work today.

Featured principles are as diverse as:

  • Characters & Glyphs
  • Font v. Typeface
  • Hierarchy
  • Inclusivity
  • OpenType
  • Pairing type
  • Rhythm
  • Web fonts

Each principle is presented in a two-page format. The left-hand page contains a succinct definition, a full description of the principle, examples of its use, and guidelines for use. Sidenotes appear to the right of the text and provide elaborations and references. The right-hand page contains visual examples and related graphics to support a deeper understanding of the principle.

With Universal Principles of Typography, gain a deep understanding of the universal principles of typography and learn how to apply them across any work you do with type, from the simplest of documents to the most complex of cross-platform design systems.

The titles in the Rockport Universal series offer comprehensive and authoritative information and edifying and inspiring visual examples on multidisciplinary subjects for designers, architects, engineers, students, and anyone who is interested in expanding and enriching their design knowledge.

Series: Rockport Universal

View all
  • The Pocket Universal Principles of Branding
    This pocket-size version of Universal Principles of Branding presents 100 concepts, theories, and guidelines that are critical for understanding brands and branding in a handy, condensed take-along format. Winner of the 2023 American Graphic Design Award for Book Design from Graphic Design USA Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, this comprehensive reference pairs clear one-page explanations of each principle with...
    Paperback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Universal Principles of Branding
    Universal Principles of Branding presents 100 concepts, theories, and guidelines that are critical for defining, building, and delivering brands today. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, this comprehensive reference pairs clear explanations of each principle with visual examples of it applied in practice. By considering these concepts and examples, you can learn to make more informed, and ultimately better, branding...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Universal Principles of UX
    Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, Universal Principles of UX pairs clear explanations of each concept with visual examples of the ideas applied in practice. The book is organised into six broad categories: Consider Empathise Define Research Design Validate And, features principles as diverse as: Design is not neutral Make the choice easy Some complexity cannot be reduced Map the...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Pocket Universal Principles of Interior Design
    The Pocket Universal Principles of Interior Design is a concise visual presentation of 100 fundamental elements of interior design. Master the art of interior design through the 100 laws, guidelines, ideas, and general considerations in this comprehensive, cross-disciplinary encyclopaedia. It's the one reference interior designers need - for professionals and nonprofessionals alike. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, The Pocket...
    Paperback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Universal Principles of Color
    A comprehensive, cross-disciplinary overview of color, Universal Principles of Color presents 100 core concepts and guidelines that are critical to a successful use of color. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, it pairs clear explanations of every topic with visual examples of it applied in theory and in practice. The book is organized alphabetically so that principles can be easily...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Universal Principles of Architecture
    Universal Principles of Architecture illustrates the importance, possibilities, challenges, and roles that architecture plays in shaping the world through 100 concepts. Divided into Archetypes, Methods, Conditions, Relationships, and Imaginaries, each of the five sections in the book introduces 20 principles addressing architecture at different scales and stages of the design process. Through an inclusive and holistic approach, the book explores...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Pocket Universal Principles of UX
    This pocket-size version of Universal Principles of UX features the concepts and guidelines included in the original version in a handy, condensed take-along format. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, Universal Principles of UX pairs clear explanations of each concept with visual examples of the ideas applied in practice. The book is organized into six broad categories: Consider Empathize Define...
    Paperback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Pocket Universal Principles of Color
    The Pocket Universal Principles of Color presents 100 core concepts and guidelines that are critical to the successful use of colour in a handy pocket-size version. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, this comprehensive, cross-disciplinary overview of colour is organised alphabetically, allowing principles to be easily and quickly referenced. The book pairs clear explanations of every topic with visual examples...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Universal Principles of Storytelling for Designers
    Unlock the power of storytelling in design with Universal Principles of Storytelling for Designers. This essential reference offers a comprehensive exploration of storytelling techniques tailored specifically for designers. By integrating classic narrative elements-such as character, conflict, and resolution-into visual work, you can create more engaging and impactful projects.In Universal Principles of Storytelling for Designers, interdisciplinary designer, innovator, and anthropologist Lyle...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Pocket Universal Principles of Design
    Whether a website, marketing campaign, museum exhibit, a video game or a complex control system, the design we see is the culmination of many concepts and practices brought together from a variety of disciplines. Now, there's a handy travel companion for any designer, so that you always have the essentials at your fingertips. Portable, condensed, and armed with 150 principles,...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Universal Methods of Design, Expanded and Revised
    This expanded and revised version of the best-selling Universal Methods of Design is a comprehensive reference that provides a thorough and critical presentation of 125 research methods, synthesis/analysis techniques, and research deliverables for human-centred design. The text and accompanying photos and graphics of this classic resource are delivered in a concise and accessible format perfect for designers, educators, and students....
    Paperback
    $6500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Universal Principles of Interior Design
    Universal Principles of Interior Design presents 100 concepts and guidelines that are critical to a successful visualization and application of interior design. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, this comprehensive reference pairs clear explanations of every topic with visual examples of it applied in practice. By considering these concepts and examples, you can learn to make more informed and ultimately...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780760383384

Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 25 April 2024

Country: United States

Imprint: Rockport Publishers Inc.

Illustration: color illustrations

Contributors:

  • Foreword by Ellen Lupton

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 216.0mm

Height: 254.0mm

Weight: 1089g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Elliot Jay Stocks is a designer and musician, based just outside Bristol, UK. After founding the typography magazine 8 Faces in 2010, Elliot joined Typekit (now known as Adobe Fonts) as Creative Director, and helped lead the service's transition into desktop fonts and the Creative Cloud ecosystem. He then went on to take several Creative Director roles, all while co-running the lifestyle magazine Lagom with his wife. In 2021, Elliot collaborated with Google to launch the typography education resource Google Fonts Knowledge. He is the author of Universal Principles of Typography (Rockport Publishers, 2024).

Over his nearly two-decade career as a designer, Elliot's work has been profiled in publications such as Communication Arts, Creative Review, Computer Arts, and Page, and he has long been a familiar face at design and tech conferences around the world. Past highlights include TYPO, An Event Apart, South by Southwest, and The Type Directors Club NYC.
Today, Elliot focuses exclusively on typographic projects, as well as publishing the newsletter Typographic & Sporadic, and hosting the podcast Hello, Type Friends! He also makes electronic music as Other Form, and releases on several independent labels across Europe.


Ellen Lupton is a writer, curator, educator, and designer. She is Senior Curator of Contemporary Design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City. New projects include the books Health Design Thinking and Extra Bold, a feminist career guide for designers. Lupton is founding director of the Graphic Design MFA Program at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) in Baltimore, where she has authored numerous books on design processes, including Thinking with Type, Graphic Design Thinking, Graphic Design: The New Basics, and Type on Screen. Her book Design Is Storytelling was published by Cooper Hewitt in 2017. She received the AIGA Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement in 2007. Recent exhibitions include Face Values: Understanding Artificial Intelligence and Herbert Bayer: Bauhaus Master. The Senses: Design Beyond Vision, Beauty-Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial, How Posters Work, and Beautiful Users. She was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts Sciences in 2019.



Also by Elliot Jay Stocks

View all
  • Fine Specimens
    Find visual inspiration and intellectual stimulation in this stunning showcase of contemporary type design. Typography is the foundation of visual communication, shaping everything from branding and editorial layouts to digital interfaces and environmental graphics. Fine Specimens is an exquisitely curated collection that highlights the best modern typefaces from leading type foundries around the world, offering both a riveting visual exploration...
    Hardback
    $7999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5999
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Home Again
    Join rock-legend, former Shihad frontman and lead singer of The Adults, Jon Toogood in this unflinching and no-holds-barred memoir Home Again.This is more than a rock story. Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of international stages, this...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Buy to Win
    Did I Ever Tell You This?
    In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world’s most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion. By his own account, his...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    New Release
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • They Bloom Because of You
    Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. ‘A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank ‘A book to keep close and...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Devotions
    New York Times Bestseller, chosen as Oprah's 'Books That Help Me Through' for Oprah's Book Club Chosen by Poetry Book Society as their special commendation 'No matter where one starts reading, Devotions offers much to love, from Oliver's exuberant dog poems to selections from the Pulitzer Prize-winning American Primitive, and Dream Work, one of her exceptional collections. Perhaps more important,...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Buy to Win
    The Odyssey
    The The Odyssey by Homer is a timeless epic that chronicles the adventures of the legendary Greek hero, Odysseus, as he endeavours to return home to Ithaca following the conclusion of the Trojan War. This monumental journey spans ten arduous years, during which Odysseus encounters a myriad of natural and supernatural challenges. From shipwrecks and ferocious battles to formidable monsters...
    By Homer
    Hardback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Buy to Win
    On Sale
    14% off
    Leaves of Grass
    A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...
    Hardback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • I Still Believe in Miracles
    I Still Believe in Miracles is a collection of poetry exploring themes of masculinity, love, grief, and connection. This is the trade debut from Instagram phenomenon Lucas Jones, perfect for fans of yung pueblo, Hussain Manawer, and Whitney Hanson. A collection of powerful contemporary poetry, I Still Believe in Miracles delves deeply into themes of masculinity, love, grief, and connection....
    Hardback
    $3500
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • New Release
    Roadscapes
    For four decades, photographer Derek Smith has explored the way New Zealanders travel, work, and express themselves through the vehicles they drive. Roadscapes is his compelling photographic journey through the heartland of New Zealand, capturing our unique car cultures and the social landscapes they inhabit across Aotearoa.
    Hardback
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $4500
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.