Why typography drives readability in Figma - Dashboard Impact

Dashboard Mode - Why typography drives readability

Business Question

How does typography affect the readability of text in reports and dashboards?

Sample Data

Font Type	Font Size (pt)	Line Spacing (em)	Readability Score (1-10)	Comments
Sans-serif	12	1.2	8	Clear and easy to read
Serif	12	1.2	7	Good but slightly dense
Sans-serif	10	1.0	6	Smaller size reduces clarity
Serif	14	1.5	9	Larger size and spacing improve readability
Monospace	12	1.2	5	Less natural flow for reading
Sans-serif	16	1.8	10	Optimal size and spacing

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Average Readability Score
  Formula: Average of "Readability Score" column = (8+7+6+9+5+10)/6 = 7.5
• Bar Chart: Readability Score by Font Type
  Shows average readability score for each font type:
  - Sans-serif: (8+6+10)/3 = 8.0
  - Serif: (7+9)/2 = 8.0
  - Monospace: 5
• Line Chart: Readability Score by Font Size
  Plots font size on X-axis and readability score on Y-axis for all rows.
• Table: Detailed Typography Data
  Shows all columns from sample data for reference.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
|      KPI Card        |     Bar Chart        |
|  Average Readability | Readability by Font  |
|       Score: 7.5     |       Type           |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|                  Line Chart                   |
|          Readability by Font Size             |
+----------------------------------------------+
|                 Data Table                    |
|          Detailed Typography Data             |
+----------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

Filter by Font Type: Selecting a font type updates the Bar Chart, Line Chart, and Data Table to show only data for that font type. The KPI Card updates to show the average readability score for the selected font type.

Filter by Font Size Range: Selecting a font size range updates the Line Chart and Data Table accordingly. The KPI Card and Bar Chart update to reflect the filtered data.

Self Check

If you add a filter for Font Type = "Sans-serif", which components update and what is the new average readability score?

Answer: The KPI Card updates to show average readability score for Sans-serif fonts: (8 + 6 + 10) / 3 = 8.0. The Bar Chart updates to highlight or show only Sans-serif data. The Line Chart and Data Table update to show only Sans-serif font size and readability data.

Key Result

This dashboard shows how different typography choices affect readability scores.

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