In addition to speaking for you, the font you choose can be how you choose to present yourself to the world. For example, compare font to clothing choice. If you were interviewing for an office job, what outfit would you choose? Most likely, you’d select something professional such as a business suit. You definitely wouldn’t show up wearing shorts, a T-shirt and flip-flops. The same goes for font choice. The font you choose should be appropriate for the message and setting of its use.
Clearly, Gilbert was unaware of this because his open letter was the equivalent of showing up to a national press conference wearing a clown suit, according to Ban Comic Sans. His font choice—Comic Sans—distorted the actual message he was trying to communicate. But why?
The problem with Comic Sans
The typeface Comic Sans was created in 1994 by Microsoft designer Vincent Connare and then became a standard font for Windows 95. Originally, Comic Sans was meant for speech bubbles of cartoon characters but since then it has been used “incorrectly” for various things including but not limited to retirement documents, restaurant menus and yes, open letters written by basketball franchise owners (Steel, 2009).
Connare says of Comic Sans (Steel, 2009), “If you love it, you don’t know much about typography. And if you hate it, you really don’t know much about typography either and you should get another hobby.”
The problem lies not in the creation of the text but in the ubiquitous use of it. When used in a silly or whimsical setting, such as a child’s birthday party invitation or filling in a speech bubble for a cartoon, it’s acceptable. Outside of situations similar to those, it might be best to go with a different font.
If you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “so what?” After all, there are thousands of fonts to choose from so why should it matter? One answer is that you want to be taken seriously without being misunderstood. Most people wouldn’t write an email in all caps for fear of it coming across as shouting, so why would you choose a font that made you come across as silly or childlike?
In the end though, it’s your choice. Remember that some choices bring consequences, as is the case for Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, only the consequence wasn’t his $100,000 fine. Gilbert’s font fumble should encourage you to think beyond aesthetics when making your selection. Nevertheless, if Comic Sans is still your go-to font, the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and freedom of press clauses naturally include font.
References:
Combs, D., & Combs, H. (2009). About: ban comic sans.
Steel, E. (2009, April 17). Typeface inspired by comic books has become a font of ill will. Wall Street Journal.
