A Nod To Comic Sans

Emily Noffsinger
Aug 23, 2017 · 4 min read

Haters, find your chill. Set aside your learned detest for Comic Sans and hear me out. Nothing can be everyone’s cup of tea. Is Comic Sans an underrated typeface that should be widely used? Of course not. But is it really the worst thing you’ve laid your eyes on? Probably not, Jokerman exists still. No need to be so dramatic. It seems to me, Comic Sans is hated for the sake of being hated.

The following analogy is a little upsetting for the sake of my own personal taste and pride but to be fair to the argument, it must be made. For years now, Comic Sans has been talked about as if it were the Nickelback of typefaces. When was the tipping point for the majority to declare Nickelback was the actual worst?** When did the world decide, “You know what, on a scale of one to the absolute worst, Nickelback is everything wrong with music.”? Comic Sans faces this same universal hate in the world of typefaces.

There are people out there: living, breathing, hearing, seeing human beings that are listening to Nickelback and using Comic Sans. They exist! And while they exist and enjoy what they enjoy, it’s an uphill battle against the collective haters of the world telling them those things are bad because the world has decided them to be so. It is OK to not like Nickelback. It is OK to not like Comic Sans. But let’s drop the bully mentality, shall we?

COMIC SANS: A BRIEF HISTORY

Comic Sans was designed in 1995 by Vincent Connare. At the time, Connare was working for Microsoft on a beta version of “Microsoft Bob”, a comic software package designed for novice users. When he saw Times New Roman being used unsuitably in this context, he designed a more fitting typeface, Comic Sans.

Screenshot of Microsoft Bob. Seriously though, Times New Roman is not working here!

In an interview with Connare, he speaks to Comic Sans being created for Microsoft Bob with no expectation of it being used for anything other than applications for kids. When it missed the deadline for Microsoft Bob, it was released later as a part of Windows 95 Plus Pack and later as a part of the system fonts for Windows 95. While intended for use in applications for younger audiences, Comic Sans gained traction quickly among a huge audience of people who owned their own computers. (Mind you, owning and making things on a personal computer was kind of a big deal in ’95) Connare’s take on its popularity is, “Regular people who are not typographers or graphic designers choose Comic Sans because they like it, it’s as simple as that. Comic Sans isn’t complicated, it isn’t sophisticated, it isn’t the same old text typeface like in a newspaper. It’s just fun — and that‘s why people like it.”

THE FALL OF COMIC SANS

Our friend, Comic Sans, wasn’t designed to sell you cars or to advertise your law firm. It was designed to be a fun and friendly comic typeface for an audience of children. Like many great things in life, it was misused and overused, to a point of seemingly no return. Its childlike appeal being applied to serious business gave people something to guffaw at. The juxtaposition of its use was many times something of irony. Its soft and gooey aesthetic made it an easy target. Like taking candy from a baby. I’m no historian, but I can tell you this, at some point between 1995 and somewhere around 2010, Comic Sans definitely became perceived as the Nickelback of typefaces: universally laughed at.

And secretly admired by some.

IT’S OKAY IF YOU LIKE COMIC SANS

All this being said, it is okay to enjoy a little Comic Sans from time to time. With the appropriate audience and application, it’s even okay to use it. It’s a simple type with some quirky qualities. Those goofy little curved ascenders and descenders and knobby little terminals; and who can argue it’s childlike sense of wonder? I personally think it’s cute. I also have two eyes, a brain, and thousands of dollars invested in a graphic design degree, and those tell me, context is key.

It’s not great but it’s also not the worst typeface to exist. Sure, it was overused and misused time and again, but let’s take the high road. Not everyone is a designer or understands that typefaces reflect personality and tone. People are out in the world, choosing typefaces every day that lead to disasters. (<– Probably NSFW) A little Comic Sans never hurt anyone. As the kids would say, stop sipping on your haterade, cut the misused Comic Sans victims a little slack, and go about your life.

**I don’t listen to Nickelback

)

Emily Noffsinger

Written by

I believe in God, only I spell it nature. Former UX designer at @elevatorup. Currently freelancing and headed west to Colorado.

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