Unlike most blogs I’ve written, I’m going to get straight to the point because as a graphic designer, this may be my biggest pet peeve. The excessive use of Comic Sans needs to end! This is an epidemic and we must take a stand! Sure, I get it. You want your resume to stand out amongst your competition or you want your print ad to make your business appear to be a place where you can have fun and have fantastic experiences. However, you may not realize the message that you are subliminally sending.
Image courtesy of Cavs.com
Comic Sans is not a font that can really be taken seriously. An example of appropriate application could be packaging for a generic toy, text layout for a comic book (hence the name) or even a board game. When you use Comic Sans as your typeface of choice for an angry letter addressing the departure of a star player as Cleveland Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert did, you tend to make a joke of yourself and you give the impression that it’s just a fun game. There was nothing fun about the city of Cleveland losing an estimated $200,000,000 per year when LeBron James left. The fan base certainly did not think it was a joke.
Comic Sans is also the last typeface that should be used when raising awareness to a social issue.
Image courtesy of Al Bello/Getty Images
Regardless of your stance, we can all agree that this issue is very serious. It should be treated in such a manner that is appropriate and just. I can’t think of a worse typeface to use in this situation.
This is usually the part where one would expect to read about the good examples where Comic Sans was used and its application made sense and was appropriate. Fortunately for you, that won’t be happening.
My reasoning?
There are no appropriate uses of Comic Sans aside from the aforementioned at the intro of this article. There will always be a better option to use that looks and fits better for its application.
Hello, I do use Comic Sans a lot in advertising. I find it playful, happy and not a hard or forceful font.
I am not trying to sell to you so that is OK.
No one I know spends their time sitting back to criticize the font I use. They are looking at the product and the message deciding whether or not to buy.
I notice also that you did not suggest an alternative which in your opinion would be readable, clear and also make us all a million dollars.
I wonder, would the above examples results be different if another font had been used. I doubt that it could attribute to millions of dollars.
Thank goodness in the USA we have freedom of speech so you can offer your point of view. I hope this rambling about a font brings you lots of money and attention. Personally I would be working on something that could make me money. And yes, I am only responding because I think your post is foolish.