Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When should I pick Typography scale?
When the story is: decks, handouts, classroom posters, resume headers.
When should I avoid Typography scale?
Skip it in cases like: random point sizes per slide with no shared ratio.
Who invented or popularised it?
Classical modular scales; modern UI ramps in open font ecosystems
What does it encode?
relative font sizes on a ratio (major third, perfect fourth, etc.)
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
Typography scale encodes values as relative font sizes on a ratio (major third, perfect fourth, etc.). Classical modular scales; modern UI ramps in open font ecosystems.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits decks, handouts, classroom posters, resume headers. Skip it when random point sizes per slide with no shared ratio.
Rules
- Rules 1 — Use relative font sizes on a ratio (major third, perfect fourth, etc.) as one channel, not two.
- Rules 2 — Direct labels beat a distant legend.
- Rules 3 — Do not hide zero. If you break the axis, say so.
- Rules 4 — Colour encodes category or magnitude, not both.
- Rules 5 — Put the claim in the title, not just "Typography scale".
- Rules 6 — Source and period, even in small type.
Palette
- Palette 1 — Categories: distinct hues. Sequences: one hue, changing value.
- Palette 2 — Diverging: a neutral centre, emphasis at both ends.
- Palette 3 — One brand colour plus greys beats a rainbow.
- Palette 4 — Check contrast on a projector and in greyscale print.
Type
- Type 1 — Tabular figures for numbers. Do not pour body copy into the chart.
- Type 2 — Titles as sentences; axes as short nouns.
- Type 3 — For CJK, drop weight one step and leave tracking.
Typography scale: honour relative font sizes on a ratio (major third, perfect fourth, etc.), and switch when random point sizes per slide with no shared ratio.