Body copy & sizes

The Horizon type system is designed to be flexible and modular, with guiding principles and real-world applications.

Body copy

Body copy in typography refers to the main text content of a document or webpage, typically set in a smaller and more readable font size, providing the bulk of information for readers. Unlike headers, which are larger and used for organization and emphasis, body copy focuses on delivering the core message and details of the content.


Sizes

Size and spacing is used to establish hierarchy, help users navigate content at a glance, and improve readability and usability.

Size Value Example
sm 12px Supplemental content
md 16px (default) Body copy
lg 20px Form header
xl 24px Section header
xxl 32px Page title

sm (12px)

This is the smallest font size available in the design system. It's meant to be identifiable, but not command attention.

Use 12px font for:

  • Labels
  • Meta data
  • Supplemental content
Example of small font used in a contact card (complimentary data)
Do

Use 12px font for complimentary data, not primary.

Example of small font being used for primary content (incidents)
Don’t

Use 12px font for primary content.

md (16px)

This is the base size for content and components. Components will be designed with 16px font in mind and sizes and spacing will be reflected in the design.

Use 16px font for:

  • Body copy
  • Component content
Example of medium font used in a modal, button, list item, and search input

lg (20px)

This size is used for content headers to help group like content and provide context. 20px font can also be used to compliment xl (24px) content.

Use 20px font for:

  • Form headers
  • Subsection headers (xl 24px)
Example of large font used in a form and subsection headers

xl (24px)

This size is used for subtitles, which are used to complement the title of the page. 24px font also provides a strong anchor to a section and provides a clear hierarchy between the section and m (16px) sized content.

Use 24px font for:

  • Subtitles
  • Section headers
Example of extra large font used in a subtitle and section header

Use 32px font for:

This is the largest font size available in the design system and it's meant to command most of the attention on the page. 32px font is only used once as a title on a page or per instance.

Use 32px font for:

  • Page titles
  • Instance titles

Don’t:

  • Use more than once on a page or per instance
Example of 32px font used for dashboard page title

When there are no associated actions, like buttons, the 32pt title provides a nice anchor and sets the hierarchy of the page.