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Anvil Typography guidelines

Read Anvil’s in-depth typography guidance
different types of data viz typography options outlined in the ordered list
  1. Headline
  2. Body text or subtitle
  3. Axis label
  4. Legend label
  5. Hover state tooltip

1. Headline Guidelines

Keep it concise: Titles should summarize the main insight or takeaway from the visualization. General text recommendation:
  • Headline - Medium or Small depending on page hierarchy
  • Foreground/default

2. Subtitle

Subtitles should be visually secondary to the headline. General text recommendation:
  • Body text - default
  • Foreground/subdued

3. Axis Label Text

Axis label is the descriptive text next to a chart’s x- or y-axis that explains what the axis represents, such as units, categories, or metrics. It helps users interpret the data accurately and should be clear, concise, and consistently styled. General text recommendation:
  • Eyebrow text - small or medium depending on page hierarchy
  • Foreground/subdued

4. Legend Label Text

Legend label is the text used within a chart’s legend to identify what each color, shape, or line represents. It maps visual elements to data categories, helping users quickly understand and differentiate between series or groups in the visualization. General text recommendation:
  • Eyebrow text - small
  • Foreground/subdued

5. Direct Labeling

There are three primary approaches for applying direct labeling in charts, each offering varying levels of visibility and user interaction depending on the complexity of the data.
  1. Direct labeling - Background/default at 80% with 4px padding all around
  2. Above labeling - Recommend Eyebrow/small text
  3. Hover-based labeling - Utilize Anvil’s popover or tooltip component
A bar chart with direct labeling (#1)A bar chart with above labeling (#2)

How to Use:

Questions? Challenges?

Contact the Visual Design team on the #ask-vizd channel
Last modified on January 28, 2026