Design Principle
A clear type scale lets headings, labels, body text, and numbers each do their job.
Principle
A clear type scale lets headings, labels, body text, and numbers each do their job.
Design action
Limit typography to 4-6 roles; reserve large display type for true heroes and use compact headings in cards, sidebars, and toolbars.
Examples
Positive example: Dashboards, forms, detail pages, and admin pages. Counterexample: All headings are too large.
Apply when
Dashboards, forms, detail pages, and admin pages. Several heading levels appear on one screen.
Source notes
Source note: Synthesized from W3C WCAG 2.2, Apple Accessibility, IBM Carbon Accessibility, and accessibility practices in major design systems. WCAG 2.2: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/ WCAG Contrast Minimum: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG21/Understanding/contrast-minimum.html WCAG Non-text Contrast: https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Understanding/non-text-contrast.html Apple HIG Accessibility: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/accessibility Carbon Accessibility Overview: https://carbondesignsystem.com/guidelines/accessibility/overview/
Agent Directive
Limit typography to 4-6 roles; reserve large display type for true heroes and use compact headings in cards, sidebars, and toolbars.