A match card is small, but the decision it asks the viewer to make is instant. On mobile devices, people scroll fast, glance once, and either understand the matchup or move on. This article gives you a simple hierarchy for esports match graphics that stay readable on small screens, plus a short audit you can run on your own designs before you publish them.
Readable does not mean plain. It means conveying the right information within the first few seconds.
Practical Interface Audit for Mobile Readability
One of the fastest ways to improve clarity is to audit a real match listing interface while you design. The point is not to borrow a style. It is to stress test spacing, labels, and number formatting in an environment built for scanning.
This CSGO odds page is a useful reference because it presents a repeatable list where team identifiers sit close to compact numeric values, so small formatting choices become obvious. Use it as a checklist mirror for your own match card.
Start with label proximity: every value needs a short label or cue that sits closer to it than to any neighboring block. Next check digit grouping: keep separators consistent, and use spacing to separate different concepts, rather than to decorate.
Next, check precision: if you show decimals, keep the same number of decimal places within the same cluster. Finally, check alignment: line up values by right edge or decimal point so the viewer can compare without re-reading.
End with a 2-second recall test. Glance, look away, and write down the teams, plus a number you remember. Keep the CSGO odds page open while you adjust your mockup, and repeat until your layout passes at a comfortable scrolling distance.
That same audit mindset applies to schedule graphics, because a calendar is still a scan-first layout with repeated labels and tight spacing. This CS2 calendar post is a compact example of how bold text grabs viewer attention and can be used to direct them to more information. It also demonstrates how to keep a graphic clean and not clutter it with excess text.
Start With the 2-Second Scan
On a phone, the primary line must win instantly. For most match cards, that primary line is the team names, plus the start time. Everything else is supporting context: map, format, tournament label, and any numeric cues.
A practical hierarchy that holds up under compression:
- Primary line: teams and time, largest size, highest contrast
- Secondary line: map or series context, smaller size, lower contrast
- Numeric cluster: values aligned and formatted consistently
- Tertiary metadata: tournament label, smallest size
If the viewer has to hunt for the teams, the card will feel busy no matter how clean your grid is.
Make Numbers Behave Like Words
Numbers are not hard to read. Unlabeled numbers are. Treat each numeric cluster like a short sentence: a label, a value, and clear separation from the next idea.
These five rules prevent most mobile failures:
- Keep labels close to the number they correlate to. Large gaps create uncertainty.
- Use tables when possible, so columns stay tidy and readable.
- Keep weight consistent inside each cluster. Thin text breaks first at small sizes.
- Keep precision consistent within a cluster. Avoid mixing two and three decimal places in the same row.
- Use whitespace for separation. Decorative dividers often compete with the data.
You should also watch micro spacing. A single extra gap can make “25” read like “2, 5” while scrolling, especially when the surrounding text is small.
Contrast That Works on Dark UIs
Dark themes are common in esports graphics, but they often fail in predictable ways. Either the contrast is too low, and everything blends into gray, or the contrast is pushed so high that small text looks harsh on bright screens. WCAG contrast guidance is a good baseline, and practical scanning research points to the same outcome: hierarchy beats decoration.
Quick fixes that usually work:
- Reserve pure white for the single most important line.
- Use softened whites for secondary text to reduce glare.
- Avoid ultra-thin fonts at small sizes.
- Test at 50% brightness in daylight and in a dim room.
If you place SVG logos on the card, confirm that they still look clean after export and platform scaling. Fine strokes can collapse when an image is resized.
A 5-Minute Pre-Publish Audit
Before you publish a match card or overlay panel, run this short check:
- Feed-size test: zoom out until the card matches a real phone feed tile. Make sure you can identify both teams in under two seconds.
- Thumb test: cover the numeric cluster. The remaining text should still explain the matchup.
- Read-out-loud test: say the values and labels. If you have to guess what a number refers to, fix labels or spacing.
- Consistency test: compare two cards side by side. Shared elements should look identical, including decimal places and label position.
- Export test: open the final image on your phone and zoom in on logos and small text. If strokes blur or fill in, adjust sizing or export settings.
If you are working with SVG logos, do the export test early. Details that look crisp on a desktop preview can collapse once a platform scales the image.
Readable match graphics are not about adding more information. They are about making the important information predictable, so the viewer understands the matchup at a glance and finds details without friction.