Replace Press Start 2P heading font with accessible alternative #51

New Issue

kert · 2026-03-21T18:19:56Z

kert commented

2026-03-21 18:19:56 +00:00

Problem

Press Start 2P is an 8×8 pixel font designed for retro game UIs. At small sizes it's illegible, fails WCAG readability, and signals "novelty project".

Solution

Replace with a font stack that:

Conforms to Nature figure specs: sans-serif (Helvetica, Arial)
Retains character: use IBM Plex Mono for headings (already in the stack) at slightly heavier weight
Or use JetBrains Mono / Space Mono for a technical-but-serious feel
Keep IBM Plex Mono for body/code (already in use)

~50+ occurrences across:

All styles/*.css files
gitea/custom/templates/home.tmpl
notebooks/.marimo-config/retro-arcade.css
Google Fonts @import URLs

Migration:

Remove all Press Start 2P from font-family declarations
Update Google Fonts import to drop Press Start 2P
Set heading font to IBM Plex Mono at weight 600
Keep body font as IBM Plex Mono at weight 400
Verify heading sizes stay readable (min 8pt per Nature specs)

## Problem `Press Start 2P` is an 8×8 pixel font designed for retro game UIs. At small sizes it's illegible, fails WCAG readability, and signals "novelty project". ## Solution Replace with a font stack that: - Conforms to Nature figure specs: sans-serif (Helvetica, Arial) - Retains character: use **IBM Plex Mono** for headings (already in the stack) at slightly heavier weight - Or use **JetBrains Mono** / **Space Mono** for a technical-but-serious feel - Keep `IBM Plex Mono` for body/code (already in use) ### ~50+ occurrences across: - All `styles/*.css` files - `gitea/custom/templates/home.tmpl` - `notebooks/.marimo-config/retro-arcade.css` - Google Fonts `@import` URLs ### Migration: 1. Remove all `Press Start 2P` from `font-family` declarations 2. Update Google Fonts import to drop Press Start 2P 3. Set heading font to `IBM Plex Mono` at weight 600 4. Keep body font as `IBM Plex Mono` at weight 400 5. Verify heading sizes stay readable (min 8pt per Nature specs)

kert added this to the P11: Design System — WCAG, branding, marimo dashboard milestone 2026-03-21 18:19:56 +00:00

kert added the styles label 2026-03-21 18:19:56 +00:00

kert referenced this issue

2026-03-21 18:19:56 +00:00

Update Docusaurus custom.css with rebranded design system #55

kert referenced this issue from a commit

2026-03-21 18:27:47 +00:00

rebrand theme: throwback → loch, --tb- → --ds-, drop Press Start 2P

kert referenced a pull request that will close this issue

2026-03-21 18:28:04 +00:00

P11: Loch design system — rebrand, font swap, --ds- prefix #56

kert closed this issue