DESCRIPTION
Using dyslexia-friendly fonts is not just a gesture toward accessibility, it’s a storytelling advantage and the reason why you see exactly this font on our website! It enhances comprehension, credibility and inclusivity while reducing visual strain for everyone, not only people with dyslexia.
Readable Storytelling is a presentation technique that applies dyslexia-friendly typography to ensure that every audience member can absorb, interpret, and emotionally follow your story with ease. Dyslexia-friendly fonts are designed with unique letter shapes, consistent spacing, and a visual rhythm that minimizes confusion between similar-looking characters (like b/d, p/q, i/l).
When used correctly, these fonts create a smoother cognitive flow and improve reading confidence, especially during fast-paced presentations or dense information slides. This technique goes beyond accessibility: it’s about crafting clear, kind, and cognitively comfortable stories that everyone can consume equally.
ORIGIN
A main element of all presentations from Manuel Kirailidis or story53…
Approximately needed time
- Method 1: 1/2 hours
- Method 2: 1 hour for approximately 10 slides
- Method 3: 1-2 hours per presentation
METHOD
METHODS
FONT
Select a typeface designed for clarity, distinction, and rhythm to optimized for reading on screens.
Our recommended font: OpenDyslexic (free, widely recognized) -> https://opendyslexic.org
Alternatives: Lexend (Google Fonts, designed to improve reading speed & comprehension), Atkinson Hyperlegible (developed by Braille Institute; highly aesthetic) or Read Regular (professionally designed dyslexic-friendly font for publications).
Use sans-serif fonts with open counters and clear letter endings.
Avoid decorative or condensed fonts. Check readability on a screen from at least 2–3 meters away.
Example: For a slide headline: “Innovation begins with empathy.”
Set in OpenDyslexic SemiBold, 36pt, clean, open and perfectly balanced for distance reading.
Install 2–3 of these fonts and test them side-by-side with standard fonts and ask somebody to read both versions aloud. The dyslexic font version will usually read more fluently.
BREATHING ROOM
Enhance clarity by combining font choice with optimal spacing and layout.
Line Spacing: 1.4–1.6× font size (avoid cramped lines).
Letter Spacing (Tracking): +2%–5% from default improves readability.
Paragraph Width: 50–70 characters per line max.
Contrast: Use dark text on a light background (avoid pure black/white extremes) or the other way around.
Example: Instead of a dense bullet list, create short, visually separated points:
• Clear text = Clear thought
• Space helps understanding
• Readability fuels memory
Each line stands on its own rhythm — easy to read and recall.
Take one of your own slides. Increase line spacing by 1.5× and slightly expand letter spacing and you’ll immediately see the slide “relax.”
VISUALITY
Align readable text placement with visual storytelling principles for optimal comprehension.
Keep main text aligned to the left as dyslexic readers find left alignment easier. Avoid justified text (uneven spacing creates “rivers”).
Use color or weight but not italics or underlines to emphasize words. Place text near visuals that support it, not compete with it.
Example: A slide about “customer trust” might show:
Left: Text (OpenDyslexic Regular, 24pt)
Right: Image of handshake or smiling customers
Golden cut used to balance focus between image and headline
This pairing gives both emotional and cognitive comfort.
Read your slide aloud. If your voice naturally “flows” with the layout, your text rhythm is probably balanced.
- Improved Readability for all audiences: The clear, open letterforms increase legibility for everyone, not just people with dyslexia. Especially effective for hybrid events or small screens.
- Reduced cognitive load: When text is easier to distinguish, the brain spends less energy decoding and more on understanding and feeling the message.
- Accessibility and inclusion: Demonstrates social responsibility, empathy and awareness as a subtle but powerful brand message in itself.
- Enhanced retention: Studies suggest that slightly varied letter shapes engage attention more deeply, improving recall of information.
- Trust and professionalism: Thoughtful typography signals that you care about your audience’s experience and it makes the storyteller seem more precise and credible.
- Visual confusion: Similar shapes (b/d/p/q) cause decoding delays.
- Reading fatigue: Tight spacing and uniform glyphs strain the eyes.
- Inequity in comprehension: Some viewers process slides slower or disengage early.
- Lost attention: Audiences focusing on reading can’t fully absorb the spoken narrative.
- Reduced impact: When text is visually “noisy,” the story’s emotion gets lost in translation.
Experience how typography affects comprehension and emotional impact.
- Create Two Versions of a Slide
Version A: Standard font (e.g., Arial).
Version B: Dyslexia-friendly font (e.g., Lexend). - Ask Viewers to Read Both
Which feels easier to read?
Which makes them feel calmer or more engaged? - Discuss
You’ll find nearly everyone — even non-dyslexic viewers — prefers the dyslexic-friendly version.
The text “breathes,” and the brain relaxes.
Takes 60-90 minutes
Supporting methods:
Visual balanced storytelling: combine readability with balanced composition.
Golden cut composition: use golden intersections to position text blocks beautifully.
Color psychology: soft contrasts reduce eye strain.
Layout principles: spacing and alignment strengthen readability patterns.
Key Takeaways:
Readable = Relatable: Clarity is empathy in visual form.
Good design is inclusive design. Accessibility enhances quality for everyone.
Typography tells emotion: Calm fonts help stories feel confident, trustworthy, and human.
The font is part of the story: It doesn’t just deliver words. It shapes how those words feel.
