Drop Comic Sans or the cute bunny gets it

Do you use the Comic Sans font in your professional marketing materials? I don’t mean on your child’s birthday invitation. I’m talking about your business card, your flyers, brochures, posters and, of course, your website.

This is the font I’m talking about (though I know you’re just acting innocent…)

If you do, within the next forty-three seconds there will be two tall men in dark suits ringing your door bell.

Um, would you believe one angry graphic designer and her rare Chinese fighting poodle?

photo credit: Living in Monrovia

Well, maybe not. But why do designers hate Comic Sans so much even though Aunt Mary loves it?

There are two main reasons:

1. Graphic designers are normally hired by professionals and businesses, so their job is to help the business to project a professional image.

2. Aunt Mary and her friends use Comic Sans way too much.

Let’s look at reason number 1, first. Does Comic Sans give a professional feel to a business card or a website?

No, it doesn’t. It is a ‘friendly’ and ‘fun’ type of font, and I understand the attraction Aunt Mary has to using it. I used to use it myself – about ten years ago. But it’s not necessary to use it in your marketing materials. If you want to look friendly and approachable yet credible and professional, there are lots of other ways to achieve that appearance.

Even if you have a ‘fun’ business or one aimed at ‘kids’, you should still steer well clear of Comic Sans for reason number 2. Aunt Mary and all her friends have used Comic Sans so much that it just screams ‘Amateur!’

Now, you wouldn’t attend a business meeting in a clown suit in order to look friendly – that would be ridiculous. You would dress in a suit but you would smile, make eye contact, and reach out in a friendly way to the other people there.

The Ban Comic Sans Facebook group page explains it further:

Like the tone of a spoken voice, the characteristics of a typeface convey meaning. The design of the typeface is, in itself, its voice. Often this voice speaks louder than the text itself. Thus when designing a “Do Not Enter” sign the use of a heavy-stroked, attention-commanding font such as Impact or Arial Black is appropriate. Typesetting such a message in Comic Sans would be ludicrous. Though this is sort of misuse is frequent, it is unjustified. Clearly, Comic Sans as a voice conveys silliness, childish naivete, irreverence, and is far too casual for such a purpose. It is analogous to showing up for a black tie event in a clown costume.

There is another reason why Comic Sans should never be used for large amounts of text, like the body text on a website or as the main font in an entire book. It’s just not readable enough. Nor is any other ‘decorative’ or ‘fancy’ font. Readability always trumps ‘looking friendly/personal’. Every time.

Imagine if Google used Comic Sans…

It just looks stupid. In fact, one design firm used Comic Sans as the main font on their website as an April’s Fools Joke (I must remember that one…)

Now I have two videos for you about Comic Sans and why it should be banned – or at least avoided. The first is kind of serious and a little long, and the second is just plain hilarious and pretty short. Your choice.

Language Warning: Just so you know, the F word is used – in subtitles – in this one. Maybe not one for your little kiddie to read over your shoulder…

And yes, Papyrus is certainly another extremely overused font to avoid.

So, please make another choice next time you pick a font. Use one that looks as professional and reliable as you are. Don’t choose Comic Sans. But if you do… is that the sound of a bunny screaming?

Just kidding. Maybe.

What do you think of Comic Sans? Friend or Foe? Please leave a comment. I always reply.

PS. No animals were actually hurt in the posting of this article. I’m a vegetarian and an animal lover. Bunnies included.