DESE DesignED Playbook

Digital and Print Typography

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) uses the following standardized font styles to maintain consistency across digital and print materials:

Font Guidelines

Primary Font: Arial
Arial is a universally available, accessible font suitable for both print and digital use. It is also the official font used in DESE website content and documentation. To ensure accessibility:

  • Use the "Styles" dropdown in Microsoft Word to apply fonts and headings.
  • Always select plain Arial, not Arial Narrow.
  • Text should be black, except for hyperlinks, which may be blue.
  • Avoid using underlined text unless it is a hyperlink.
  • Use bold and italics sparingly to maintain readability, especially in large blocks of text.

Typography Hierarchy with Font Sizes

Heading 1 (Arial 20)

Heading 2 (Arial 16)

Lorem ipsum is placeholder text commonly used in the graphic, print, and publishing industries for previewing layouts and visual mockups.

Heading 3 (Arial 15)

Lorem ipsum, or lipsum as it is sometimes known, is dummy text used in laying out print, graphic or web designs. The passage is attributed to an unknown typesetter in the 15th century who is thought to have scrambled parts of Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum for use in a type specimen book.

Heading 4 and/or Subtitle (Arial 14)

Lorem ipsum is placeholder text commonly used in the graphic, print, and publishing industries for previewing layouts and visual mockups.

Heading 5 (Arial 13)

Lorem ipsum, or lipsum as it is sometimes known, is dummy text used in laying out print, graphic or web designs. The passage is attributed to an unknown typesetter in the 15th century who is thought to have scrambled parts of Cicero's De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum for use in a type specimen book.

Heading 6 and/or body copy (Arial 12)

Lorem ipsum is placeholder text commonly used in the graphic, print, and publishing industries for previewing layouts and visual mockups.

Last Updated: August 21, 2025

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