leggevo

Leggevo is a concept in typography and cognitive ergonomics that concerns the state of textual legibility under specific visual and cognitive conditions. It refers to a quantified measure of how easily readers can extract meaning from text across media, from print to digital interfaces.

Etymology: The term blends legibile, meaning readable, with legere, to read, and the Italian suffix -vo indicating a quality or state.

History: The concept was proposed by Italian designers and researchers in the early 2010s as an attempt to integrate typography metrics with observed reading behavior. It has since appeared in some accessibility and UX guidelines as a readability variable.

Definition and metrics: A Leggevo score reflects multiple interacting factors, including typeface anatomy (x-height, stroke contrast, open counters), spacing (kerning, tracking, line-height), color and contrast, and layout (line length, margins). Measurement uses reading speed and accuracy tests, subjective ease ratings, and eye-tracking indicators such as fixation duration and regressions. The score is used to compare fonts, sizes, and themes for readability.

Applications: Leggevo informs publishing, web and app design, e-book production, and accessibility audits. It supports adapting content for diverse readers, including older adults and individuals with reading disorders or cognitive differences.

Criticism: The framework is still debated; results can vary with scripts other than Latin, devices, and language. Methodological differences and device calibration can limit cross-study comparability.

See also: Readability, Typography, Accessibility, Eye-tracking.