Fonts: Universal Design in Power BI

In this episode of the Universal Design Quick Tips series, Greg Trzeciak from Pragmatic Works explores the often-overlooked but critical role that fonts play in creating accessible Power BI reports. Drawing from both industry standards and in-house testing, Greg offers actionable insights that can be instantly applied to improve user experience.

Why Fonts Matter in Power BI

Fonts are not just a design choice—they are a crucial element of accessibility and readability. Greg emphasizes that both the type of font and its size can dramatically affect how end-users interact with reports, especially those with accessibility needs.

Understanding the Two Main Font Types

Greg breaks down the two primary categories of fonts:

• Sans Serif Fonts: These fonts are clean, block-like, and lack decorative elements. They are widely recommended for accessibility because they are easier to read, especially for users with visual or cognitive challenges.
• Serif Fonts: These have small decorative "feet" or embellishments at the tops and bottoms of letters. While some users find them stylish, they are generally considered less readable in data-heavy reports.

Greg notes that internal testing at Pragmatic Works often shows users preferring serif fonts for readability, which highlights how user preferences can vary. However, sans serif fonts remain the default recommendation for accessible design.

Font Size and Accessibility Guidelines

Referencing the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Greg recommends the following font sizes:

• 18pt regular
• 14pt bold

These sizes are considered accessible and are recommended even if legal compliance is not required. Applying these rules to Power BI reports ensures content remains readable across varying user needs and environments.

Top Recommended Fonts for Accessibility

Greg shares several fonts that are known for accessibility and often used in reports:

• Verdana: A sans serif font considered the "gold standard" in readability across platforms. Highly recommended.
• Others: While many fonts offer varying degrees of readability, it’s best to stick with those proven in accessibility research.

He also notes that not all recommended fonts may be available in the Power Platform, so it's important to choose fonts supported natively by Power BI.

Real Report Comparison

To demonstrate the impact of fonts and sizes, Greg presents two Power BI reports:

1. Default Report: Uses standard Power BI font and size, which offers decent accessibility but loses readability at a distance or with reduced visibility (e.g., blurred vision).
2. Optimized Report: Applies Universal Design principles, including 18pt or 14pt bold fonts. This version maintains readability even from a distance and does not sacrifice layout space.

This side-by-side example illustrates how small tweaks can significantly enhance the usability of a report for all users.

Why This Matters

If you're creating reports that are:

• External-facing
• Used by individuals with accessibility requirements
• Subject to Section 508 or WCAG compliance

...then these font guidelines should be a key part of your design process. Even if you’re not legally required to meet these standards, applying them will result in a better user experience.

Final Thoughts

Greg concludes by reminding viewers that font adjustments are a simple but powerful way to make reports more inclusive. While font choice might seem minor, it plays a major role in how data is consumed and understood.

To dive deeper into Power BI accessibility, Greg encourages viewers to explore Pragmatic Works’ full Universal Design course, available through their on-demand learning platform.

Don't forget to check out the Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform for more insightful content and training sessions on Power BI and other Microsoft applications. Be sure to subscribe to the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest tips and tricks.