UX Typography

UX Typography Skill

Fluid typography system using Utopia scale with container query inline (cqi) units. This skill covers font selection, sizing, and typographic hierarchy.

Font Stack

Display Font (Headings, UI)

--font-display: 'Cinzel', serif;

Use for:

• Headings (h1-h6)
• Navigation labels
• Button text
• Phase names
• Game titles

Body Font (Content, Paragraphs)

--font-sans: 'Crimson Pro', Georgia, serif;

Use for:

• Body text
• Paragraphs
• Form inputs
• Hints and descriptions
• Story content

Fluid Type Scale

The project uses Utopia fluid scale with cqi units (container query inline). Sizes interpolate based on container width.

IMPORTANT: cqi units require container-type: inline-size on an ancestor. The project sets this on html.

Type Steps

Usage

.body-text {
  font-size: var(--step-0);
  font-family: var(--font-sans);
}

.heading {
  font-size: var(--step-3);
  font-family: var(--font-display);
}

.caption {
  font-size: var(--step--2);
  font-family: var(--font-sans);
}

Line Height

Recommended Values

.heading {
  line-height: 1.1;
}

.body {
  line-height: 1.5;
}

.button-text {
  line-height: 1.2;
}

Letter Spacing

Tokens

:root {
  --letter-spacing-tight: -0.025em;
  --letter-spacing-normal: 0;
  --letter-spacing-wide: 0.025em;
  --letter-spacing-wider: 0.05em;
}

Usage Guidelines

.hero-title {
  font-size: var(--step-5);
  letter-spacing: var(--letter-spacing-tight);
}

.phase-label {
  text-transform: uppercase;
  letter-spacing: var(--letter-spacing-wider);
}

Font Weight

Available Weights

• 400 - Regular (body text)
• 600 - Semibold (emphasis, labels)
• 700 - Bold (headings, buttons)

.body {
  font-weight: 400;
}

.label {
  font-weight: 600;
}

.heading {
  font-weight: 700;
}

Typographic Hierarchy

Example Structure

/* Page title */
h1 {
  font-family: var(--font-display);
  font-size: var(--step-4);
  font-weight: 700;
  line-height: 1.1;
  letter-spacing: var(--letter-spacing-tight);
}

/* Section heading */
h2 {
  font-family: var(--font-display);
  font-size: var(--step-2);
  font-weight: 600;
  line-height: 1.2;
}

/* Body text */
p {
  font-family: var(--font-sans);
  font-size: var(--step-0);
  font-weight: 400;
  line-height: 1.5;
}

/* Caption/hint */
.hint {
  font-family: var(--font-sans);
  font-size: var(--step--1);
  color: var(--theme-on-surface-variant);
}

Text Styling Patterns

Emphasis

/* Strong emphasis */
strong, .strong {
  font-weight: 600;
}

/* Italic for terms */
em, .term {
  font-style: italic;
}

/* Highlighted text */
mark, .highlight {
  background: var(--theme-primary-container);
  padding-inline: 0.2em;
  border-radius: 2px;
}

Links

a {
  color: var(--theme-primary);
  text-decoration: underline;
  text-underline-offset: 0.15em;
}

a:hover {
  text-decoration-thickness: 2px;
}

a:focus-visible {
  outline: var(--focus-ring-width) solid var(--focus-ring-color);
  outline-offset: var(--focus-ring-offset);
}

Keyboard Hints

kbd {
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 0.1em 0.4em;
  font-family: inherit;
  font-size: 0.9em;
  background: var(--theme-surface);
  border: 1px solid var(--theme-outline);
  border-radius: 3px;
}

Responsive Typography

The fluid scale handles most responsiveness automatically. For specific adjustments:

/* Container query for constrained spaces */
@container (max-width: 200px) {
  .phase-label {
    font-size: var(--step--2);
  }
}

/* Override for very large displays */
@container (min-width: 1400px) {
  .hero {
    font-size: var(--step-5);
  }
}

Accessibility

Minimum Sizes

• Body text: --step-0 minimum (16px at base)
• Interactive labels: --step--1 minimum (13px at base)
• Never smaller than --step--2 for any readable text

Avoid

/* DON'T: Fixed pixel sizes */
.bad {
  font-size: 14px;
}

/* DON'T: Viewport units for body text */
.bad {
  font-size: 2vw;
}

/* DON'T: Low contrast with small text */
.bad {
  font-size: var(--step--2);
  color: var(--theme-outline);
}

Do

/* DO: Use fluid tokens */
.good {
  font-size: var(--step-0);
}

/* DO: Ensure contrast for small text */
.good {
  font-size: var(--step--1);
  color: var(--theme-on-surface);
}