UCAS Typography
I have written and sent off my UCAS personal statement and forgive me, I had to break so many typographic rules.
I really wanted to add a little extra class by using ligatures, but since it is a simple web form I can’t. More importantly, I can’t even use the right dashes and correct quotes for fear that they will be rendered incorrectly.
I presume that it is supposed to level the playing field so that it is the best written, not the best typeset, statement that stands out; but still, presentation is very important, and typography—even just at a basic level—should be taught in school and be a mark of attention to detail, just like correct spelling and grammar.
Instead, even those who know better have to use bad typography in what has been described as ‘the most important piece of writing so far’. I don’t know how the paper system worked—I’m sure there were restrictions in place—but I’m also sure it gave much greater flexibility and allowed applicants to use the right glyphs in the right places.
I know it’s too late for any change to make a difference to me, but I’d really like to see a future version of UCAS Apply that has support for correct typography. I know computers are still very young and the focus of innovation has been in moving forward, but we are losing something in our haste; we are forgetting centuries of tradition and I would think the universities would be the perfect people to try and protect that while still being progressive. That may even be the case but UCAS really isn’t helping the matter.
P.S. If you are a university checking me out, please email me from a university email address and I will give you my personal statement typeset as I intended it.