Mémoire de fin d'étude
Mémoire de mémoire : retenir les écrits
À l'école de la psychologie cognitive
Abstract
In this article, I explore the intricate relationship between typography and cognitive psychology. To do so, I analyze how typographic elements influence our ability to remember and understand textual information. Beginning with an investigation into cognitive psychology, particularly memory encoding processes, this dissertation highlights the role of mental representation in information retention. Indeed, encoding, which I illustrate through word associations and visualizations, sheds light on the mechanisms of long-term memory. The analysis progresses to the principle of typographic readability. It revolves around serifs, clutter, and visual similarity among characters, and their impact on readability. The exploration shows the importance of typography readability in facilitating or impeding text comprehension, and therefore how it may affect memory retention. Finally, I examine typography as a tool for learning and memorization. The Sans Forgetica, a typeface designed using the principles of cognitive psychology to challenge readability, prompts the mental reconstruction of characters. Studies show Sans Forgetica’s potential to help in memorizing short textual elements, words or quotes. This paper sheds light on typography’s influence on memory retention and how typographic design can optimize information retention, particularly for keywords and short sentences. The research highlights the complexity of memory processes influenced by typographic forms, paving the way for new explorations to improve learning strategies and information retention through tailored typographic interventions.
