Fontsmith publishes a guide to choosing more accessible typefaces

Type foundry Fontsmith has published a guide to typographic accessibility, a resource for designers to gauge the legibility of their fonts and create more inclusive design.

The infographic guide is based on Fontsmith’s FS Me typeface which was developed with Mencap and designed to improve readability for people with learning disabilities. It outlines some of the main features to look out for when selecting an accessible font.

“Accessibility in typography is not an exact science,” Fontsmith says. “It is better to imagine a sliding scale where certain speciality typefaces are highly accessible at one end and some, for example script or display fonts, are very inaccessible at the other end. Most fonts lie somewhere in the middle.”

Fontsmith’s creative director Jason Smith says that clients “recognise the importance of being inclusive to all and are looking for stylish designs which aren’t childish or patronising”.