In Defense of Comic Sans

No font is so widely recognized – or reviled – as comic sans.

While typefaces like Helvetica inspire documentaries and fan merch, Comic Sans has become synonymous with amateur design.

We get it. There are some truly tone-deaf uses of Comic Sans out there.

But disparaging the font itself and not those misguided applications betrays a fundamental misunderstanding in what makes a good font.

Three decades ago, Microsoft designer Vincent Connare was tasked with coming up with a font for the tech company’s new product, “Microsoft Bob.” Microsoft Bob was supposed to make early Windows operating systems more user-friendly. Connare took a cue from what he had sitting around his office – comic books.

And so, comic sans was born.

Don’t Hate the Font, Hate the Application

Microsoft Bob never really got off the ground, but Comic Sans stuck around in other Microsoft programs (always in lighthearted applications) before becoming an established system font for Windows operating systems.

In the world of complex B2B marketing and sophisticated consumer messaging, Comic Sans doesn’t have a lot of useful applications. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be used anywhere.

A kid’s birthday invite. Informal documents. Even a company pizza party flyer. All fair game for Comic Sans.

Its benefits go beyond conveying a sense of childlike whimsy. Its exaggerated letterforms and generous spacing make it easier to distinguish between characters, aiding comprehension for those who struggle with traditional typefaces.

In studies, participants retain more information when presented material in fonts that are more difficult to read – like Comic Sans. It’s also been proven to help individuals with dyslexia.

There’s a lot to dislike about Comic Sans. But like any design element, it has its place, and it’s up to designers to use it the right way.

For his part, Connare said he’s only ever used Comic Sans once in his life. We’ll let him have the last word in defense of his defamed font.

“People don’t know why it was made. If they did they would realize that it was what design is about — designing for a product with an appropriate design.”