Graphic Designers: The Font Haters or the Fashionistas?
Designers fed up with feigning disdain for these tiresome fonts
Let's bust the myth that graphic designers have an impeccable taste that automatically elevates them above AI bots. A lively debate has erupted on Reddit, and it seems designers sometimes feign disdain for widely used fonts.
From the iconic typefaces overwhelmed by ubiquity to the ones that have lost their credibility, designers argue about the lesser-loved font choices. Remember, it's all about the deck – the use case matters.
Fonts Under Fire
1. Futura and its Repercussions
"I like Futura and I'm tired of pretending I don't," the OP confesses, with many designers echoing his feelings. Some argue that Futura has become a careless shortcut for "good taste" due to its overuse. They claim it's too commonplace and lacks personality. However, others praise its unique feel and sleek Bauhaus-inspired design, attributing its rightful place to the book "Never Use Futura" by Douglas Thomas.
2. Avenir and the Unspoken Love
Adrian Frutiger's Avenir, French for 'future,' takes inspiration from geometric sans-serifs of the '20s, like Erbar and Futura. Some designers love it, whereas others' bosses detest it, adding fuel to the debate. Avenir, although praised for its organic design, seems to be a font that was engineered for bosses to appreciate.
3. Arial, the Plain Janet of Fonts
Arial, long considered too commonplace and comedic, is often highlighted as a joke. Nevertheless, some designers argue that there's nothing inherently wrong with this clean sans-serif, and it's surprisingly accessible, especially when compared to Helvetica.
4. Helvetica and the Crown of Controversy
Helvetica, the king of geometric sans-serif typefaces, is still used by numerous brands and as a basis for many logos. Despite this, some designers criticize it for being overused. However, the designers who shun their teachers' anti-Helvetica messaging prove that not everyone is buying into the hype.
5. Comic Sans: The Butt of All Jokes or the Quirky Favorite?
Lastly, no font debate would be complete without mentioning the universally mocked Comic Sans. Although it's widely considered unprofessional, the strong negative reactions to it are not always pretended dislike. Some designers genuinely love it, using it for personal projects or as a playful response to mundane circumstances.
Is There a Such Thing as a Bad Typeface?
Perhaps the debate reflects that there are no "bad" typefaces, only wrong choices and inappropriate applications. The takeaway? Avoid dogmatic opinions, and think about the context of each specific work.
"Typefaces are easy punchlines/punching bags," one person writes. "I've used specific faces as punching bags in the past, but I'd happily work with them now. These days, I'm far more concerned with how letters fit on a page than with typeface selection."
"If you can do whatever you like within legal and ethical standards, then go ahead and present pages of text in Dingbats like David Carson once did for Ray Gun magazine," a designer suggests. It's all about being innovative and pushing the envelope.
What do you think? Are the fonts mentioned truly controversial? Do you have a font that you pretend to hate, or one that you genuinely despise? Sound off below!
For more design debates, don't miss the outdated graphic design trends that designers wish would disappear and the hot discussion about AI giving clients impossible expectations. We've also seen interesting debate about why graphic designers use Macs.
- While some graphic designers may feign disdain for fonts like Futura, confessing their admiration is not uncommon, as it becomes a subject of controversy due to overuse.
- Avenir, with its inspiration rooted in geometric sans-serifs of the 1920s, is a font that divides designers, with some appreciating its organic design and others' bosses disliking it.
- Arial, often stereotyped as plain and comedic, is still met with criticism, despite arguments by designers that it's accessible and surprisingly versatile compared to some other sans-serifs.
- Helvetica, the perennial king of geometric sans-serif typefaces, continues to be a contentious choice due to its widespread usage, yet some designers defy the anti-Helvetica message and embrace it for various projects.
- The divisive nature of Comic Sans is not lost on the discussion, with some still finding charm in its quirkiness and using it for personal projects, despite its universal mockery as unprofessional.
- In the world of graphic design, the question persists - are there truly "bad" typefaces, or are misapplications to blame? This debate encourages designers to avoid dogmatic opinions and consider the context of each specific work.
- As one Reddit user notes, typefaces are often easy targets for jokes or critiques, but they can be re-evaluated as valuable tools, especially with an emphasis on how letters fit on a page.
- Daring to break conventions, a designer suggests that pushing the envelope can even involve presenting text in unorthodox typefaces like Dingbats, as seen in David Carson's work for Ray Gun magazine.
- As the debate continues, the preferences and pet peeves of designers in the areas of UX, branding, art, 3D, graphic design, layout, color, logo design, fonts, creative, lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, home-and-garden, and technology are showcased, each with their unique perspective on the role and value of typefaces in design.
