Formstidiness

Formstidiness is a proposed quality describing how orderly and consistent the form of something is across instances, including visual shapes, typography, interface elements, or standardized templates. The term is not widely standardized and is used primarily in discussions of design quality and information architecture. It combines the idea of form (shape, layout) with tidiness (orderliness, consistency).

Key characteristics include alignment with a grid, uniform margins and padding, consistent stroke width or edge clarity, balanced proportions, and repeatable construction rules across instances. In typography, formstidiness relates to uniform character shapes and spacing; in user interface design, it concerns field alignment, label placement, and component sizing; in form design, it involves predictable field order and input affordances; in handwriting or printing, it refers to consistent stroke economy and legibility.

Assessment is typically qualitative, though metrics can be devised. Possible measures include alignment error relative to a grid, variance in letter spacing, edge crispness, and overall grid coherence. Higher formstidiness can improve legibility, scanning efficiency, and user satisfaction, while excessive rigidity may limit expressiveness or accessibility for diverse users.

Applications span graphic design, document templates, UI/UX, and data entry forms, as well as quality control in manufacturing of standardized templates. Critics note that the term is subjective and context-dependent, and that an overemphasis on tidiness might detract from readability, usability, or inclusivity.

See also: visual consistency, typographic rhythm, grid systems, form design, data normalization.