Font selection and pairing in Figma - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is the main goal of font selection in dashboard design?

To choose fonts that make the dashboard easy to read and understand quickly, improving user experience.

beginner

Why should you pair fonts carefully in a report or dashboard?

Because good font pairing creates visual harmony and helps separate headings from body text, making information clearer.

beginner

Name two common font categories used in BI dashboards.

Serif fonts (like Times New Roman) and Sans-serif fonts (like Arial or Roboto). Sans-serif fonts are often preferred for screens.

intermediate

What is a simple rule to follow when pairing fonts?

Pair a serif font with a sans-serif font to create contrast and balance.

beginner

How does font size affect dashboard readability?

Larger fonts improve readability for headings and important data, while smaller fonts are good for details but should not be too small.

Which font type is generally easier to read on digital dashboards?

A Serif

B Decorative

C Script

D Sans-serif

Sans-serif fonts have clean lines and are easier to read on screens.

What is a good practice when pairing fonts in a report?

A Use two fonts from the same category

B Use one serif and one sans-serif font

C Use only decorative fonts

D Use fonts with very similar styles

Pairing one serif with one sans-serif font creates clear contrast and balance.

Why avoid using too many different fonts in a dashboard?

A It makes the dashboard look messy and confusing

B It improves readability

C It helps highlight all text equally

D It reduces loading time

Too many fonts create visual clutter and reduce clarity.

Which font size is best for dashboard headings?

A Large

B Medium

C Very small

D Tiny

Large font sizes make headings stand out and improve readability.

What should you consider besides font style when selecting fonts?

A Font price

B Only font style matters

C Color contrast and spacing

D Font popularity

Good color contrast and spacing help make text readable and accessible.

Explain why font pairing is important in dashboard design and give an example of a good pairing.

Think about how different fonts help separate headings from body text.

Describe how font size and style affect the readability of a business intelligence report.

Consider what makes text easy to read quickly.

Practice

1. Which of the following is the best reason to choose a clear, simple font for your BI report body text?

easy

A. It improves readability and helps users understand data easily.

B. It makes the report look more colorful and fun.

C. It allows you to use more fonts on the same page.

D. It reduces the file size of the report.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of body text fonts

   Body text should be easy to read so users can quickly grasp information.

2. Step 2: Evaluate the options

   Only It improves readability and helps users understand data easily. focuses on readability and user understanding, which is key for BI reports.

3. Final Answer:

   It improves readability and helps users understand data easily. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Clear fonts improve readability [OK]

Hint: Choose fonts that make reading easy and clear [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing fonts just because they look colorful
• Using many different fonts in one report
• Ignoring readability for style

2. Which font pairing follows best practice for BI report headings and body text?

easy

A. Heading: Times New Roman, Body: Times New Roman Italic

B. Heading: Comic Sans, Body: Papyrus

C. Heading: Arial Bold, Body: Arial Regular

D. Heading: Brush Script, Body: Courier New

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify font pairing principles

   Good pairing uses a clear, professional heading font with a matching, readable body font.

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   Heading: Arial Bold, Body: Arial Regular uses Arial Bold and Regular, a clean and consistent pairing suitable for BI reports.

3. Final Answer:

   Heading: Arial Bold, Body: Arial Regular -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Consistent, clear font pairing = Heading: Arial Bold, Body: Arial Regular [OK]

Hint: Pair bold heading with regular body font from same family [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using decorative fonts that reduce clarity
• Mixing unrelated font styles
• Choosing fonts that clash visually

3. You have a BI dashboard with headings in 'Roboto Bold' and body text in 'Roboto Regular'. What is the expected user experience?

medium

A. Users easily distinguish headings from body text with clear readability.

B. The report looks unprofessional because fonts are too similar.

C. Users find the report confusing due to font mismatch.

D. The body text is hard to read because Roboto is a decorative font.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand font family usage

   Using the same font family with different weights helps separate headings and body clearly.

2. Step 2: Evaluate user experience

   Roboto is a clean, readable font; bold headings stand out while regular body text remains clear.

3. Final Answer:

   Users easily distinguish headings from body text with clear readability. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Same font family with weight difference improves clarity [OK]

Hint: Use same font family with different weights for clarity [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking similar fonts cause confusion
• Assuming decorative fonts improve readability
• Ignoring font weight differences

4. A BI report uses 'Georgia Italic' for headings and 'Arial Black' for body text. What is the main issue here?

medium

A. The fonts are too similar, causing confusion.

B. Arial Black is not a valid font.

C. Italic headings are always hard to read.

D. The body font is too heavy and reduces readability.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze font styles for readability

   Arial Black is very heavy and bold, which can overwhelm body text readability.

2. Step 2: Consider heading font style

   Georgia Italic is readable for headings, but pairing with heavy body font reduces clarity.

3. Final Answer:

   The body font is too heavy and reduces readability. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Heavy body fonts reduce readability [OK]

Hint: Avoid heavy fonts for body text to keep it readable [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming italic is always bad for headings
• Ignoring font weight impact on body text
• Thinking font validity is the issue

5. You want to create a BI report with a professional look. Which font pairing strategy should you use to balance clarity and style?

hard

A. Use two decorative fonts to make the report stand out.

B. Use a sans-serif font like 'Open Sans' for body and a serif font like 'Merriweather' for headings.

C. Use the same font for headings and body with no weight difference.

D. Use a script font for headings and a monospace font for body.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand font pairing principles

   Combining a clean sans-serif body font with a distinctive serif heading font creates balance and professionalism.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options for clarity and style

   Use a sans-serif font like 'Open Sans' for body and a serif font like 'Merriweather' for headings. uses this proven pairing, while others reduce readability or look unprofessional.

3. Final Answer:

   Use a sans-serif font like 'Open Sans' for body and a serif font like 'Merriweather' for headings. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Sans-serif body + serif heading = professional look [OK]

Hint: Pair sans-serif body with serif heading for style and clarity [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using decorative fonts that reduce clarity
• Using identical fonts without weight difference
• Mixing script and monospace fonts in reports