A typeface is like a chair
Stephen Coles

• A page is like a room, type is like furniture, and a typeface is like a chair.
• Chairs and typefaces are designed to fulfill a purpose.
• The user knows immediately when they aren’t right for the purpose, though they may not be able to explain why.
• Furniture design and typeface design are crafts.
• Both crafts require good taste.
• Both crafts require technical proficiency.
• For most purposes, both crafts require restraint.
• A chair or typeface can be decorative to varying degrees but must be functional.
• The best chairs and typefaces have an appropriate balance of form and function.
• Very small changes in proportion make a big difference.
• You can misuse a chair and you can misuse a typeface.
• Context matters: a lounge chair doesn’t work at a dining table, Papyrus doesn’t work in a business letter.
• Audience matters: a chair must hold the weight and size of the sitter, a typeface must hold the attention of the reader.
• Everyone needs them every day.
• There isn’t a perfect one.