typeguides

Typeguides are documentation that specifies how typography should be used across a brand or product. They describe approved typefaces, font families, weights, and styles, and translate them into practical rules for layout, readability, and visual hierarchy.

A typical typeguide covers the selection of typefaces for headings, body text, and UI elements; a typographic hierarchy with size, line height, and letter spacing; responsive rules for different screen sizes; color and contrast guidelines; and examples of approved pairings and usage. It may also outline typography rules for different platforms, accessibility considerations, and how to apply typography within grids and layouts.

In digital projects, typeguides are often implemented as design tokens or style sheets that can be consumed by design systems and code. They may define a type ramp or scale, CSS variables, and specific guidance on licensing and fallback fonts. Accessibility considerations, such as legibility, contrast, and focus states, are commonly addressed to ensure readability across users and devices.

Typeguides support consistency, efficiency, and brand identity by guiding designers, developers, and content creators. They are typically created by design teams and maintained as part of a broader brand or design system, sometimes published publicly and other times restricted to internal teams. They may coexist with broader guidelines on branding, copy, and UI components.