Why typography drives readability in Figma - Why Use It

Introduction

Typography is how text looks on a screen or paper. Good typography makes reports and dashboards easier to read and understand. This helps people find the right information quickly.

When creating a sales report that many people will read on different devices

When designing a dashboard that shows key numbers clearly to managers

When making a presentation with charts and text that must be easy to follow

When building a data story that guides users through insights step-by-step

When you want to improve the look and feel of your business reports

Steps

Step 1: Select the text layer you want to improve

- Layers panel

The text layer is highlighted and ready for editing

Step 2: Click the Text section in the right sidebar

- Properties panel

Typography options like font, size, line height, and letter spacing appear

Step 3: Choose a clear, easy-to-read font like 'Inter' or 'Roboto'

- Font dropdown in the Text section

The text changes to the selected font, improving readability

💡 Sans-serif fonts are usually easier to read on screens

Step 4: Adjust the font size to at least 14 pixels for body text

- Font size input in the Text section

Text becomes larger and easier to read without strain

Step 5: Set line height to about 1.4 to 1.6 times the font size

- Line height input in the Text section

Lines of text have enough space, making reading smoother

Step 6: Increase letter spacing slightly if the text looks crowded

- Letter spacing input in the Text section

Letters have more space, improving clarity

Step 7: Preview your text on different screen sizes using the Preview mode

- Play button in the top-right corner

You see how the typography looks on various devices

Before vs After

Before

Text uses a small font size (10px), tight line height, and a decorative font making it hard to read

After

Text uses a clear sans-serif font at 16px size, with comfortable line height and letter spacing, making it easy to read

Settings Reference

Font Family

📍 Properties panel > Text section > Font dropdown

Choose the style of letters to improve readability and tone

Default: Roboto

Font Size

📍 Properties panel > Text section > Font size input

Control how large the text appears for easy reading

Default: 14px

Line Height

📍 Properties panel > Text section > Line height input

Adjust vertical spacing between lines to avoid crowding

Default: Auto

Letter Spacing

📍 Properties panel > Text section > Letter spacing input

Control horizontal space between letters for clarity

Default: 0px

Common Mistakes

Using very small font sizes under 12px

Small text strains the eyes and reduces readability, especially on screens

Use at least 14px font size for body text to ensure comfort

Choosing fancy or script fonts for large text blocks

Decorative fonts slow reading and cause confusion in reports

Use simple, clean fonts like Inter or Roboto for main text

Setting line height too tight or too loose

Too tight lines make text cramped; too loose lines break reading flow

Set line height between 1.4 and 1.6 times font size for balance

Summary

Good typography makes business reports and dashboards easier to read and understand

Use clear fonts, proper font size, line height, and letter spacing to improve readability

Avoid small fonts and decorative fonts for main text to keep information clear

Practice

1. Why is typography important in Business Intelligence dashboards?

easy

A. It makes text easier to read and understand.

B. It adds more colors to the dashboard.

C. It increases the number of charts shown.

D. It reduces the amount of data needed.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand typography's role

   Typography focuses on how text looks and feels, affecting readability.

2. Step 2: Connect typography to BI dashboards

   Clear text helps users quickly grasp information on dashboards.

3. Final Answer:

   It makes text easier to read and understand. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Typography improves readability = C [OK]

Hint: Typography improves text clarity and user understanding [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing typography with adding colors
• Thinking typography changes data amount
• Believing typography increases charts

2. Which of the following is a correct typography practice in Figma for BI reports?

easy

A. Choose fonts that are easy to read at different sizes.

B. Use very small font sizes to fit more text.

C. Use multiple font styles in every sentence.

D. Avoid spacing between lines to save space.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify good font choices

   Fonts should be clear and readable at various sizes for BI reports.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   Using easy-to-read fonts improves clarity; very small fonts or no spacing reduce readability.

3. Final Answer:

   Choose fonts that are easy to read at different sizes. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Readable fonts = A [OK]

Hint: Pick fonts clear at all sizes for readability [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using tiny fonts that are hard to read
• Mixing too many font styles
• Skipping line spacing

3. In a Figma BI dashboard, if the font size is set too small and the color contrast is low, what is the likely result?

medium

A. The dashboard will load faster due to smaller text.

B. Users will find the text hard to read and may miss key insights.

C. More data points will be visible on the screen.

D. The dashboard will automatically adjust font sizes.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze font size and color contrast effects

   Small fonts and low contrast reduce text readability.

2. Step 2: Understand user impact

   Hard-to-read text causes users to miss important information.

3. Final Answer:

   Users will find the text hard to read and may miss key insights. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Small font + low contrast = poor readability = A [OK]

Hint: Small font + low contrast = hard to read [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking small fonts speed up loading
• Assuming more data shows automatically
• Believing dashboard auto-adjusts fonts

4. You notice your BI dashboard text is hard to read. Which Figma typography setting is most likely causing this issue?

medium

A. Font size set to 18px with black text on light yellow background.

B. Font size set to 16px with black text on white background.

C. Font size set to 14px with dark blue text on white background.

D. Font size set to 8px with light gray text on white background.

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify poor typography settings

   Very small font size and low contrast colors reduce readability.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Font size set to 8px with light gray text on white background has 8px font and light gray on white, making text hard to see.

3. Final Answer:

   Font size set to 8px with light gray text on white background. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Small font + low contrast = readability issue = D [OK]

Hint: Check font size and contrast for readability issues [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring font size too small
• Overlooking color contrast problems
• Assuming all light colors are readable

5. You are designing a BI dashboard in Figma for users with visual impairments. Which typography approach best improves readability?

hard

A. Use small fonts with multiple colors and tight line spacing.

B. Use cursive fonts with low contrast colors to reduce glare.

C. Use large, high-contrast fonts with clear spacing and avoid decorative fonts.

D. Use many font styles and sizes to highlight all data points.

Solution

1. Step 1: Consider needs of visually impaired users

   They need large, clear fonts with strong contrast and good spacing.

2. Step 2: Evaluate typography options

   Use large, high-contrast fonts with clear spacing and avoid decorative fonts uses large, high-contrast fonts and clear spacing, improving readability.

3. Final Answer:

   Use large, high-contrast fonts with clear spacing and avoid decorative fonts. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Large, clear fonts + contrast = best readability = B [OK]

Hint: Large, clear fonts with contrast help all users read better [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using small or decorative fonts
• Choosing low contrast colors
• Overloading with many font styles