Generally, diagonal elements such as lines and text should…
““Generally, diagonal elements such as lines and text should be avoided. They look messy and, in the case of text, are harder to read than their horizontal counterparts. When it comes to the orientation of text, one study (Wigdor & Balakrishnan, 2005) found that the reading of rotated text 45 degrees in either direction was, on average, 52% slower than reading normally oriented text (text rotated 90 degrees in either direction was 205% slower on average). It is best to avoid diagonal elements on the page.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Diagonal and rotated text reduce readability and increase reading time, so they should be avoided in design.
In simple terms: Diagonal text is hard to read.
Key Takeaway
Keep text horizontal for clarity.
Themes
readability
design
visual hierarchy
Mood
cautious
practical
Type
design guideline
best practice
When to use this quote
- presentations
- infographics
- web pages
- reports
Key Concepts
cognitive load
visual perception
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you think of contexts where diagonal text adds value?
- How might you test readability before finalizing a design?
A Different Perspective
Diagonal text may be necessary for artistic effect, but it sacrifices clarity.