Design Principle
Typeface differences need a clear purpose; decorative mixing can increase reading cost.
Principle
Typeface differences need a clear purpose; decorative mixing can increase reading cost.
Design action
Default to a clear sans-serif; add contrast fonts only at heading level when brand expression needs it, and use monospaced or tabular numerals for data.
Examples
Positive example: Brand pages, portfolios, data products, and knowledge content. Counterexample: Several decorative typefaces appear on one screen.
Apply when
Brand pages, portfolios, data products, and knowledge content. Numeric or technical interfaces need tabular clarity.
Source notes
Source note: Synthesized from W3C WCAG 2.2, Apple Accessibility, IBM Carbon Accessibility, and accessibility practices in major design systems.
Agent Directive
Default to a clear sans-serif; add contrast fonts only at heading level when brand expression needs it, and use monospaced or tabular numerals for data.