Use of GDS Transport font on products not on service.gov.uk

[robertjmccarthy]

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Discussed in https://github.com/ministryofjustice/moj-frontend/discussions/249

^{Originally posted by kelliedesigner September 2, 2021} #Related pages

• Typography - GOV.UK Design System
• Making your service look like GOV.UK
• GOV.UK Proposition

Background

Guidance on the GOV.UK Design System states:

If your service is on the service.gov.uk subdomain you must use the GDS Transport font.

You should use an alternative typeface like Helvetica or Arial for services that are publicly available on different domains.

• GDS policy states you should no use GDS Transport if your service is not on service.gov.uk
• There is no licensing restrictions on the use of GDS Transport.

Fonts used in other departments

• HMRC - Arial
• Home Office - Roboto
• HMLR - Arial / Helvetica
• DfE - GDS Trasnport
• ESFA - GDS Transport

MOJ guidance

HMPPS Probation Designers community discussion 1 September 2021

• There is a feeling in MOJ and across gov that the GDS policy on this is out of date, and should be relaxed so that GDS Transport can be more widely used.
• There is also no enforcement if GDS Transport is used on services not on service.gov.uk

By not using GDS Transport, we miss out on:

• accessibility and readability optimisation
• familiarity of GOV.UK
• seamless use of GOV.UK components and patterns (alternative fonts can break them and cause issues)

Actions

We will:

• continue to use GDS Transport across probation digital products
• provide MOJ wide guidance / stance on the font in the Pattern Library
• feedback our approach to  GDS, to start the conversation on relaxing the policy