Unpopular Opinion: I Love Using Tables
Yes. Tables. And no, I’m not talking about data tables. Too often, designers think of tables as Excel-like tools living inside design software. Something you use when you’re forced to show numbers. That’s not how I use them.
I use tables when I’m:
Building process graphics
Laying out bullet lists
Structuring resumes
Creating side-by-side content
Cleaning up anything that needs alignment to actually stay aligned
Here are my go-to moves:
Merge Cells Like You Mean It
Tables aren’t rigid unless you treat them that way. Need a header to span columns? Merge. Need a longer description under one section? Merge vertically. Need a layout that feels custom but won’t fall apart after edits? Merge strategically. I’m not building grids. I’m building frameworks.
Control Spacing at the Cell Level
This is the real flex. Insets. Row height. Column width. Instead of nudging text boxes and zooming in to “make sure” things line up, I define the spacing once and let the table hold it. When content changes, the structure stays intact. That’s production peace.
Use Fills for Hierarchy
Subtle gray behind a header. A brand color accent column. Alternating fills to separate process steps. Hierarchy built into the structure, not layered on top. Cleaner. Faster. Smarter.
Be Strategic with Strokes
Everyone says “remove all the strokes.” And yes, often that’s step one. But not always. Sometimes strokes are your best friend. Use a bottom stroke as a clean underline. Use horizontal strokes to divide thoughts. Keep vertical strokes off, but let one line create rhythm across a page. Instead of drawing extra rules and hoping they align, let the table do the work. Intentional. Controlled. Efficient.
I don’t love tables because they’re flashy, I love them because they behave. If you’re still building layouts with floating text boxes and manual alignment, try using a table as the invisible backbone instead. Tables aren’t about data. They’re about discipline, and discipline wins under deadline.
