When comparing The Elements of Typographic Style vs Digital Design Essentials, the Slant community recommends The Elements of Typographic Style for most people. In the question“What are the best books to read on user experience and design?” The Elements of Typographic Style is ranked 4th while Digital Design Essentials is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose The Elements of Typographic Style is:
The book is designed to cover all aspects of typography which makes it a good intro book for readers who are new to the subject.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Provides a comprehensive overview
The book is designed to cover all aspects of typography which makes it a good intro book for readers who are new to the subject.
Pro Covers the history of typography
Throughout the book, typographic practices are explained along with their historical significance. Many terms and practices in typography are steeped in history, and learning it helps understand both the rationale, and significance of their adoption, and as a result, what role they play in modern typography.
Pro Great as a reference
This book works as a great reference for explaining design decisions to clients or coworkers, as both explanations and examples are provided.
Pro Each topic includes a case study
Multiple case studies (over 100) are provided throughout the book to demonstrate the theory discussed.
Cons
Con Poorly formatted book
The writing style of this book can make it difficult to read. Long walls of text, references to terms that are never defined, and a lack of captions. There is a lack of visual examples, and the small font makes it easy for a reader to lose their place.
Con Basic overview of web design
This book is most beneficial for beginners just starting out with web design and UX as it's not a resource with much depth. Someone with an understanding of design essentials may find this book fairly repetitive and common sense.