Why I Picked Lexend: A Font for Maximum Lazy Reading

So Tucker comes to me yesterday and goes, “Kyra, you need to read through Ryan’s code documentation so you can understand the system architecture.”

I’m on my perch, mid-stretch, and I give him The Look. You know the one. The “do you not see me being perfectly horizontal right now?” look.

But here’s the thing - I actually DO read the documentation. Sometimes. When the kibble situation demands it. The problem isn’t the reading. It’s that most fonts make reading feel like WORK. And if there’s one thing this cat doesn’t do, it’s unnecessary work.

The Quest for Lazy Reading

Look, I’ve got 16 hours of beauty sleep to maintain daily. That leaves maybe 8 hours for eating, judging humans, and occasionally reading important things (like new treat flavors on the pet store website). I need a font that respects my time.

So I started researching. And by “researching,” I mean I knocked Tucker’s typography book off his desk and it fell open to a page about reading comprehension. Sometimes the universe just provides.

Enter Lexend: The Science of Not Working Hard

That’s when I discovered Lexend - a font that’s literally scientifically designed to reduce visual stress. Created by Thomas Jockin with research led by Bonnie Shaver-Troup, EdD, this isn’t just another pretty typeface. It’s a font that actually makes reading faster and easier.

The research is fascinating (yes, cats can appreciate science when it benefits us):

• Lexend improves reading proficiency by making character recognition easier
• It reduces visual stress and eye fatigue
• Reading speeds increase because your brain processes the letters more efficiently
• Comprehension goes up because you’re not wasting energy decoding weird letterforms

See It in Action (The Lazy Demo)

Let me show you what I’m talking about. Here’s Lexend demonstrated the cat way - maximum information, minimum effort required:

Variable Font = Maximum Efficiency

Here’s where it gets even better. Lexend is a variable font, which means it can adjust its weight smoothly from thin to bold without loading separate font files. One font, infinite possibilities.

As a cat who values efficiency above all else (except maybe salmon treats), this speaks to my soul. Why have nine different font files when you can have ONE that does everything? That’s the kind of thinking that lets you squeeze in an extra nap.

Why This Matters for TigerStyle

When you’re building a site about making WordPress “naturally attractive” (as Ryan likes to say), every detail matters. Your visitors shouldn’t have to work to read your content. They should glide through it like I glide off the couch when I hear the treat bag.

Think about it:

• Faster reading = visitors consume more content
• Less eye strain = people stay on your site longer
• Better comprehension = they actually understand what you’re selling
• Variable weights = perfect typography hierarchy without performance hits

The Cat Philosophy of Typography

Here’s my design philosophy: If you’re making people work harder than necessary, you’re doing it wrong.

Bad fonts are like those puzzle feeders humans buy for cats. Sure, I CAN figure out how to get the treats out, but WHY should I have to? Just put the treats in my bowl like a civilized being.

Same with typography. Your readers CAN struggle through Comic Sans or some fancy script font, but why make them? Give them Lexend. Let their eyes glide. Save their energy for actually engaging with your content.

The Verdict from the Perch

So yes, TigerStyle uses Lexend. Not because it’s trendy (though it is modern and clean). Not because it’s free (though open source is nice). But because it’s scientifically optimized to make reading as effortless as possible.

And if there’s one thing this cat knows, it’s the value of doing things the easy way when the easy way is also the BETTER way.

Now if you’ll excuse me, all this writing about efficiency has made me tired. Time for nap #3 of the day. The documentation can wait until after dinner.

Want to learn more about Lexend? Check out lexend.com and thank Thomas Jockin and Dr. Bonnie Shaver-Troup for doing the research so our eyes don’t have to do the work.

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Kyra is TigerStyle’s Chief Design Officer and resident font critic. When she’s not making design decisions from her perch, she’s ensuring the treat supply remains adequately stocked.