When we encounter typography, how do we know what it means? How is the tone of type influenced by the way it is set, when it is made, and where it exists? Considering the social, spatial, and temporal contexts of visual language, this text informs and inspires students, educators, and professionals looking to engage more deeply with the letterforms they use and see. Featuring diverse typographic works, "closer looks", and interviews with practicing artists and designers, Giving Type Meaning serves to inform how and why we understand what type communicates.