Typography

Typography-Keiki
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We use a combination of two main fonts: Proxima Vara, and our own early learner font, Mikado-chan.

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Mikado-chan is a customized font that was designed with the way young learners are taught to read and write in mind. Discovery Education owns the exclusive rights to Mikado-chan, which is a variation of the existing font, Mikado.

Mikado (帝): King or Emperor
Mikado-chan (帝ちゃん): Little King or Child King
Designer: Hannes von Döhren, in collaboration with our Sr. Designers Joyce Tai-Chau and Alexandra Corona

Victor+King
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1234567890!

Mikado-Chan Available Weights

 Mikado-chan is available in six weights: Light, Regular, Medium, Bold, Black, and Ultra.

We use Regular for paragraph copy within lessons and Bold for headers. Light, Black, and Ultra should only be used for editorial design products such as informative web pages, packaging, and marketing design.

Mikado-Chan Light

Mikado-Chan Regular

Mikado-Chan Medium

Mikado-Chan Bold

Mikado-Chan Black

Mikado-Chan Ultra

Mikado-Chan Recommended Styles

Mikado-chan is primarily used in student content for Grades PreK–2. There is a limited range of recommended sizes available because the text needs to be large and readable.

Jumbo

Size: 140px
Line Height: 115%
Weight: Black (900)

Title

Size: 80px
Line Height: 120%
Weight: Bold (700)

Header

Size: 70px
Line Height: 120%
Weight: Bold (700)

Body Copy

Size: 40px
Line Height: 135%
Weight: Regular (400)

Caption

Size: 25px
Line Height: 120%
Weight: Regular (500)

Mikado-Chan Examples in Lessons

We always use Mikado-chan in Grade K lessons. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade K lessons. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
Mikado-chan is used here as an accent font on a teacher’s dashboard in Science Techbook. For teacher-facing products, we can use both Mikado-chan and Proxima Vara.
Mikado-chan is used here as an accent font on a teacher’s dashboard in Science Techbook. For teacher-facing products, we can use both Mikado-chan and Proxima Vara.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade K lessons. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade K lessons. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
On this K–5 check for understanding slide, we use Mikado-chan. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
On this K–5 check for understanding slide, we use Mikado-chan. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade 2 lessons. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade 2 lessons. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade K lessons. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade K lessons. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We create unique art for every holiday in our popular monthly Sentence Fix-it activity. Mikado-chan is a fun font to use in these cases.
We create unique art for every holiday in our popular monthly Sentence Fix-it activity. Mikado-chan is a fun font to use in these cases.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade 1 textbooks. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade 1 textbooks. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade K lesson material lists. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
We always use Mikado-chan in Grade K lesson material lists. It is the only font that meets the needs of early learners for reading and learning to write.
Mikado-chan is used here as an accent font for the DE Science Kit packaging. Because the packaging itself is teacher-facing, it’s fine to mix Mikado-chan and Proxima Vara.
Mikado-chan is used here as an accent font for the DE Science Kit packaging. Because the packaging itself is teacher-facing, it’s fine to mix Mikado-chan and Proxima Vara.
Sound All Around is a popular interactive learning game which utilizes Mikado-chan for Grades K–2.
Sound All Around is a popular interactive learning game which utilizes Mikado-chan for Grades K–2.
Mikado-chan is used for all Grade 1 workbooks. It replicates the way students are taught to read and write.
Mikado-chan is used for all Grade 1 workbooks. It replicates the way students are taught to read and write.

Type and Color

Both Mikado-chan and Proxima Vara use Platform Neutral 800 for paragraph or body copy, but rules around headers differ.

Header: Color exploration is encouraged for grades PreK-2. It must pass passing AA accessibility standards.
Paragraph Copy: Platform Neutral 800

Header: Platform Neutral 900
Paragraph Copy: Platform Neutral 800

Proxima Vara

Proxima Vara is an exciting new addition to our font family. It is a versatile and flexible typeface that builds upon the success of our previous typeface, Proxima Nova. With Proxima Vara, we have expanded the range of weights, widths, and slants available to our designers. This allows for greater creativity and customization when it comes to creating effective type hierarchies for different design needs and use cases.

Proxima Vara Regular

Proxima Vara Semi-Bold

Primer Vara Bold

Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Qq Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ! @ # $ % ^ & *

Sizing

Predetermined sizes for all headings and body copy establish a clear hierarchy in our typography. This guides a user’s attention to different sections of our interface. We have also included specifications for tracking and leading to enhance readability and ensure a pleasant reading experience.

Headings

H1

68px
Regular, Bold
120% Line Height

H2

54px
Regular, Bold
120% Line Height

H3

43px
Regular, Bold
120% Line Height

H4

35px
Regular, Bold
120% Line Height

H5

28px
Regular, Bold
120% Line Height

H6

24px
Regular, Bold
120% Line Height

Body

Body 1

18px
Regular, Semi-Bold, Bold
140% Line Height

Body 2

16px
Regular, Semi-Bold, Bold
130% Line Height

Small Captions

14px
Regular, Semi-Bold, Bold
140% Line Height

Specifications

Tracking

The tracking throughout the use of Proxima Vara is set to 0 (default) and remains unaltered when being used.

Leading

Leading (line height) when using Headlines stays fluent at 120% throughout, while our Body type(s) various between 130% to 140% when being used.

Usage

Below, find the specifics of how we set up interface core components to work seamlessly with our Proxima Vara typeface. Through careful alignment and integration of design principles, Proxima Vara ensures a visually appealing user experience.

Examples of Proxima Vara in Product

We use Proxima Vara across different components to deliver clear and succinct information. This helps to create organized user interfaces, ensuring consistent navigation patterns.
We use Proxima Vara across different components to deliver clear and succinct information. This helps to create organized user interfaces, ensuring consistent navigation patterns.
Our homepage incorporates the Proxima Vara font across various interface elements such as cards, banners, and titles.
Our homepage incorporates the Proxima Vara font across various interface elements such as cards, banners, and titles.
We use Proxima Vara for displaying titles and details for Channels, along with sections of the channel and associated assets.
We use Proxima Vara for displaying titles and details for Channels, along with sections of the channel and associated assets.
Our "Explore" section of the platform demonstrates Proxima Vara in various formats. This is done to establish a clear type hierarchy, which in combination with visual design, effectively guides the user's attention to key areas.
Our "Explore" section of the platform demonstrates Proxima Vara in various formats. This is done to establish a clear type hierarchy, which in combination with visual design, effectively guides the user's attention to key areas.
Classroom Manager uses the Proxima Vara typeface in its user interface to show key details and data about classroom management.
Classroom Manager uses the Proxima Vara typeface in its user interface to show key details and data about classroom management.
As seen, we use Proxima Vara extensively in various sizes for our Nebula Design System components. The size and weight specifications depend on the functionality of the component.
As seen, we use Proxima Vara extensively in various sizes for our Nebula Design System components. The size and weight specifications depend on the functionality of the component.
In our Techbook, we use Proxima Vara and Mikado-Chan in pairty to create an effective user interface. Proxima Vara is used to highlight key details about the lesson, while Mikado-Chan provides information about the lesson content itself.
In our Techbook, we use Proxima Vara and Mikado-Chan in pairty to create an effective user interface. Proxima Vara is used to highlight key details about the lesson, while Mikado-Chan provides information about the lesson content itself.
We use Proxima Vara across different components to deliver clear and succinct information. This helps to create organized user interfaces, ensuring consistent navigation patterns.
We use Proxima Vara across different components to deliver clear and succinct information. This helps to create organized user interfaces, ensuring consistent navigation patterns.
We use Proxima Vara for the user interface in the same way as other Techbook scenarios. However, we increase the font size to cater to our audience in certain user cases.
We use Proxima Vara for the user interface in the same way as other Techbook scenarios. However, we increase the font size to cater to our audience in certain user cases.
We mainly use Proxima Vara in our platform for clear interfaces, adjusting its size for specific audiences. This typeface contributes to organized interfaces and consistent navigation.
We mainly use Proxima Vara in our platform for clear interfaces, adjusting its size for specific audiences. This typeface contributes to organized interfaces and consistent navigation.
Even in streamlined interfaces like assignment creation, we incorporate the Proxima Vara typeface into our components for straightforward and efficient interactions.
Even in streamlined interfaces like assignment creation, we incorporate the Proxima Vara typeface into our components for straightforward and efficient interactions.
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