Leading
Leading refers to spacing between lines of text in web design and typography. It's an important concept that helps make text more readable and visually appealing on websites. When job descriptions mention 'leading,' they're talking about how designers adjust the vertical space between lines of text to improve readability and create a better user experience. This term comes from the old days of physical printing when strips of lead metal were used to create space between lines. Today, it's often called 'line-height' in modern web design, but many designers still use the traditional term 'leading' in their resumes and portfolios.
Examples in Resumes
Improved readability of corporate website by optimizing Leading and text spacing
Applied responsive Leading techniques to ensure text readability across mobile and desktop devices
Implemented dynamic Line Height and Leading adjustments for multilingual website content
Typical job title: "Web Designers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Web Designers
Online Communities
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you determine the appropriate leading for different types of content?
Expected Answer: A senior designer should discuss factors like font size, line length, audience needs, and device considerations. They should mention testing across different screen sizes and how leading affects readability.
Q: How does leading impact responsive design?
Expected Answer: The answer should cover how leading needs to adjust for different screen sizes, the relationship between text size and leading, and techniques for maintaining readability across devices.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What's the relationship between font size and leading?
Expected Answer: Should explain how larger text typically needs more leading space, and how this relationship helps maintain readability in different contexts.
Q: How do you test if your leading choices are effective?
Expected Answer: Should discuss user testing methods, checking readability on different devices, and getting feedback from different user groups.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is leading and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that leading is the space between lines of text and how it affects readability and visual appearance of text on websites.
Q: What's a typical leading value for body text on websites?
Expected Answer: Should know common leading values (like 1.5 times the font size) and explain why this is generally considered good for readability.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of typography principles
- Knowledge of standard leading values
- Simple text formatting
- Basic CSS implementation
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced typography layouts
- Responsive text spacing
- Cross-browser compatibility
- Typography testing methods
Senior (5+ years)
- Complex typography systems
- Accessibility optimization
- Typography strategy development
- Team guidance on typography standards
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic typography principles
- Inability to explain how leading affects readability
- No experience with responsive design
- Lack of knowledge about accessibility standards for text
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