Context
Tables in Shorthand were functional but visually basic—they looked like they belonged in a spreadsheet, not a polished digital story. Customers were embedding screenshots of styled tables instead of using our native component.
How might we make tables that are both easy to create and beautiful enough to match editorial quality?
Process
- Analyzed how customers were working around table limitations
- Studied table design in premium publications and annual reports
- Identified the most impactful styling options vs. nice-to-haves
- Designed a progressive styling panel that reveals complexity gradually
- Tested with data-heavy stories to ensure scalability
Solution
Tables now support custom colors, borders, typography, and alternating row styles. A theme system lets users save and reuse table styles, and responsive behavior ensures tables remain readable on mobile.
Outcomes
- Native table usage increased 80%
- Screenshot workarounds nearly eliminated
- Table styling became part of the theme builder
Learnings
- Header styling was the highest-impact improvement
- Mobile responsiveness required more attention than expected
- Copy-paste from spreadsheets needed to preserve some styling intent