The System 322: Ask a Designer (Comic Sans)

January 6th, 2010

Today starts 2 weeks of strips that I’m posting in advance. I asked what questions people had on Twitter and this week are the responses.

When Vincent Connare designed Comic Sans for Microsoft in 1994, he had good intentions. He wanted a comic book styled font that could be available to the masses. What he didn’t want is for that font to be used freakin’ everywhere. There’s a right and a wrong time to use every font. Learn it. Use it. And don’t use Papyrus.

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Comments:

Chibby

Even though I totally agree with the 4th panel, I concur with the 3rd panel.
The font _is_ the problem.
In my (not so) humble opinion, this font should never even been made.
http://www.bancomicsans.com/
alex

ey, wake up that poor bastard, its already been over 200 strips ago.
http://www.notquitewrong.com/rosscottinc/2009/01/01/the-system-121/
jmbadger

I still can't believe the subtitles for "Avatar" are in Papyrus.
rossmom

Don't knock the way people use Comic Sans. It's one of my favorites–after Arial, don't knock that either, I know how you designers feel about it.

I use Comic Sans to annoy certain people, well, ok, one person. And I use it to send other people who don't know the difference between Comic Sans and Times New Roman (I don't know why anyone would ever use that. Why even I, older than Stone, wouldn't stoop to that level.)

I know, I amaze you w/the breadth of my knowledge. And, I'm modest too.

(I would have writte this in Comic Sans to annoy all of you professionals out there, but I couldn't do it. Sorry about that. I know you were looking forward to being annoyed.)
Amanda Jones

Amen.
Ethan

I'm pretty sure Papyrus is the best font ever…
murphy

ummm .. chez paris?
- nostrildarmus
  
  The point is that its not a classy font, and should not be used for Classy stuff
  - Mordoz Cookie Lord
    
    Except for classy clowns and cartoon characters. Then its fine.
    
    Although perhaps to make it fancy as well, I'd add italics.

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