Overview

the purpose of the Character Design Standards is to state the general rules for character shapes in Latin based languages in digital fonts. Primarily defining the guidelines designers use for character alignments, both vertical and horizontal and how these relate to other similar characters or character groups.

These guidelines should be thought of as a roadway to the goal of a well made typeface. This roadway is not a heavily patrolled, narrow one lane street but a well marked multi-lane path that takes you where you want to go.

Making digital type is not the same as drawing a typeface

The art and process of designing letterforms is a very creative task but it is not void of the rules and guidelines that govern good design. Any form of design is a solution to a problem or need. A good design is one that is appropriate for its use without any inappropriate features.

As an example, a well designed house is one large enough for its inhabitants, stylistically equivalent to its culture and strong enough for its environment. A well designed typeface is appropriate for its use and its final usable form appropriate for that use or device.

This document is about the final usable font. It is not a definition of how to use or design a typeface. This document also is less concerned with the artistic decisions in creating letterforms than it is with creating a usable, functional solution for written communication.