Variable sinhala typeface towards responsive design: an exploration

Abstract

Variable typography allows designers and programmers to fully leverage the capabilities of Responsive Web Design by modifying or animating the typeface. This study was conducted to analyse and design a dynamic variable Sinhala typeface that changes letters to letters or word to word. The research goals included using an existing typeface to use in making the transitions; analysing an existing Sinhala typeface to map out the issues of using the existing typeface; overcoming the issues identified by introducing a grid to develop a new typeface; and testing the legibility of the newly developed typeface, to generate different letter-to-letter or word-to-word animations using the developed typeface. Letter-to-letter or word-to-word variable transitions can be implemented in a web and interactive designs to enhance the engagement of the users with the corresponding digital medium. This Sinhala variable typeface can be combined with a variety of factors such as user interactions, mouse interactions, facial gestures, sound, light etc. This study shows the possibilities to create and design functioning Sinhala responsive variable typefaces with a well-founded framework, and possibilities to adapt them in any compatible systems.