This page is a live type specimen for the DSGN 300 site. It is not a final rulebook. It gives us a place to compare the Adobe Fonts kit in context before pruning the family down to the cuts that earn their download time.
Current Roles
minion-procarries long-form reading.minion-pro-displaycarries large page titles.minion-pro-subheadcarries section headings.minion-pro-captioncarries metadata, ledes, and quieter supporting text.polymathcarries navigation and interface labels.polymath-displaycarries higher-impact interface labels when the sans needs more presence.JetBrains Monocarries code.
Minion Optical Sizes
Display / 700
Structure gives the page a voice before decoration arrives.
Subhead / 700
Good headings are wayfinding, not ornament.
Caption / 400 italic
Small text still deserves optical care.
Body / 400
The browser is a reading environment. The type should make that fact visible without making the page feel precious.
Characterful Options
These cuts are available for experiments. Use them sparingly. The question is not “can this look interesting?” but “does this help the page explain itself?”
Black
A chapter opener can be blunt without being loud.
Condensed Display / 700
Condensed type buys space, but it also changes the voice.
Condensed Subhead / 700 italic
The compressed cuts should feel deliberate, not like a fallback.
Condensed Caption / 400
Useful for labels only if the compression improves clarity.
Sans Interface Options
Polymath is currently the preferred sans voice for UI and navigation. These samples are intentionally shown at larger sizes so the proportions are easier to read before deciding how it behaves in smaller navigation contexts.
Polymath / 700
Interface text should be clear before it becomes stylish.
Polymath / 400 italic
A quieter sans can still carry a little editorial tone.
Polymath Display / 700
Navigation, labels, metadata, controls.