Poll: Comic Sans: what do you think of it.

[Joshimodo]

As a graphic designer, I'm not a fan.

That's not to say it's a bad typeface. In comparison to elegant typefaces like Garamond or Bodoni or refined, utilitarian modernist typefaces such as Univers or the much loved (and overused) Helvetica, it appears ugly, misshapen and childish.

The problem is the same with pretty much any typeface - Incorrect usage. Slapping Comic Sans on things is a very common thing, as it's a non-threatening and "funny" type, but it just doesn't work.

There's a rumour in the design world that it was designed to be easier to read for dyslexics (which graphic designers oddly tend to be), but whether that's true is anyone's guess.



So, no - I don't hate it. I don't like it, but I can see it's purpose. What I DO hate however, is bad typography and misuse of typefaces.


Now, a typeface that TRULY deserves hatred and should NEVER, EVER be used is Papyrus. Fuck that.

My fave fonts are Century Gothic/ Avalon/ Avant Garde (all similar - but I do love round sans-serif). I don't mind Bank Gothic for some specific things.

The correct term is geometric sans-serif. May help if you're ever looking for more.

My top 5 typefaces are (in no particular order)

-Univers (especially the condensed numbers, upper 30s to 40s)
-Bodoni
-Steelfish
-Eurostile
-Trajan Pro (anyone who thinks Helvetica/Akzidenz is ubiquitous should look up this, it is EVERYWHERE)

I have a soft spot for Garamond and Century Gothic too, but they're a bit clumsy when it comes to elegant type design (for the most part, anyway).

 

[mysecondlife]

I don't get all the anger about it. Times New Roman is used a lot as well. As long as fonts are readable and looks good on printer paper, I'm not too picky.

i may have been beaten to at referencing it, but i bet i'm the only one to have it nice and convenient for all the lazy peoples of the internet

OT: i really don't care about it, and even have trouble pointing it out to be honest

lol about time someone posted it.

To 76 post prior: shame on you guys...

 

[Joshimodo]

-Steelfish

I've used that one many times in the past...

It's a pleasant typeface. I'm a big fan of condensed letterform though, so it's hardly surprising that I like it.


Also, while I dislike the image, it's good to see someone using Empire. Benton is one of my heroes, I did a project based on him a couple years back. Prolific type designer.

 

[gery900]

Well, sorry for saying but, comic sans is preeetty retarded, really, i don't know why, it just irritates me!

 

[Kamehapa]

I can only imagine a select few people care

 

[BarbaricGoose]

I don't have a problem with Comic Sans, but I hope they ban that red color that gets used for pretty much every single teenage sex comedy's title.

You know the color I'm talkin' about. The lettering also makes it look like it's stamped on the cover. Usually stamped in just the right place to cover up the one interesting thing in the entirety of the god-awful movies--breasts.

 

[DigitalSushi]

There is almost never an excuse for using Comic Sans. If you don't know what the story of Comic Sans is, I'll inform you that it was designed by Vincent Connare in 1994 in an attempt to make a better typeface for interface purposes, specifically speech bubbles, than the Times New Roman that was used by Microsoft until then. Unfortunately, it's infected the world since by being included in the standard font list in Windows 95.

Comic Sans is a detestable typeface. Despite being ostensibly based on the lettering of such graphic novels as Watchmen, the typeface has none of the style of these hand-drawn letters and instead is infested with inconsistency. It is a disgrace to the world of typography. Connare might have later made up for some of his sins with Trebuchet, which isn't terrible, but his most (in)famous is still free to roam around, destroying any semblance of good typographical design in its disciples.

There is only one positive thing which can be said for it: At least it's better than Papyrus. There is almost never an excuse for using Comic Sans; there is absolutely never an excuse for using Papyrus. In all other respects, Comic Sans should be considered a blight on the typographic universe. I think I'll stick to my Avenir and my Adobe Garamond, and if I ever feel like conveying a feeling of irreverence, I'll choose a rounded Helvetica or something.

I leave you with this, an ostensibly serious political letter that I received recently:

Spoiler

Comic Sans and Bradley Hand: If these two typefaces being used for what is supposed to be a serious political letter is any representation of Gay Mitchell's campaign, making him the President would be a joke - and not a particularly funny one.

Not to mention that letter heading is totally fucked.

I used to use Comic Sans, or Comic Snazz as I call it, when I was an accountant in meetings because it used to fucked with peoples heads, that and any items of interest were highlighted in bright pink.

 

[Fitzcaraldo]

I can't say I like the font. It was designed for comics, and sure it looks alright there, but when it's used in a serious context it just looks weird and out of place. I was in an airport a few days ago and they were using Comic Sans for those signs that tell you not bring bombs and such on the plane, which was very strange looking. In summary, I wish people would stop using it, but nowhere near enough to actually do anything to convince them not to.

 

[Jadak]

Can't say I like the font, but also not likely I'd ever notice it anyways. Anyone trying to "ban" something as trivial as font needs to just shut up and turn off their computer.

 

[Hobonicus]

I think anyone who gets that pissy over a font has no business with any sort of power. Over anything.

I'm a typographer, meaning my life is based around the intricacies of type that most people take for granted. And I'll tell you Comic Sans is a terrible font. It's one of the worst, up there with Papyrus and Hobo. I understand that most people don't care in the least and often don't even see the issues, but for those with any education in type design, Comic Sans is painful. Not even actual comics use it.

I get pissy over Comic Sans so that you don't have to.

/martyr

 

[Aurgelmir]

It serves one purpose, writing in Comic Books.

Outside of that I just think it is an ugly and over used type face that is not suited for reading in long documents. (And trust me I have seen that too)

I am not against the font, and I have never understood the "omg this font is Soooo much prettier than that font" mindset. To me most fonts are all nice and good But know when to use which honestly.

*thinks everyone should know how to read webdings.

 

[Lukeje]

Come on. All you need is Computer Modern (or Times New Roman when this is not available) as a serif font, and Arial as a sans-serif font. Any other fonts are basically redundant.

 

[mjc0961]

Ban a font? No, that's dumb, and I think maybe those people need to find a new purpose in life. At least you can read Comic Sans without any problems, unlike some other fonts out there.

Anyway, if there's one font I don't really enjoy, it's Times New Roman. I don't know why... I just don't like it. Give me Arial instead please.

Also, as long as we're sharing comics about font, might as well toss this xkcd into the mix:

[http://xkcd.com/590/]

 

[Lukeje]

Come on. All you need is Computer Modern (or Times New Roman when this is not available) as a serif font, and Arial as a sans-serif font. Any other fonts are basically redundant.

You do realise that Arial is considered to be a cast-off copy of Helvetica, and that Helvetica predates Arial by something like thirty years? I mean, I'm not even all that big a fan of Helvetica, but if you're going to say that Arial should be the only sans-serif typeface, it demonstrates a distinct disregard for the chronology of typeface design. If everybody thought that way, the Germans would still be using Fraktur.

I just don't like Helvetica for some reason. I can't really explain it.