It seems that technology nowadays just keeps moving forward at a faster and faster rate. Within 10 years, we have seen the rise of the mobile internet, hot-spots, wireless internet, Bluetooth, and tablets, just to name a few things. However, it seems that no matter how fast technology progresses, our typography simply stays the same! This is something that has bewildered me for quite some time now. In fact, it seems that the same old boring fonts are being used more and more today, even though there are a whole bunch of websites like Dafont and Font Squirrel are offering awesome typography for all to use!
Lets take some time to go over some of the most overused, overrated, and simply plain and boring fonts out there on the internet, shall we? The following is a comprehensive list of a few fonts to avoid when designing a website, logo, or print material.
Fonts to Avoid
FONTS TO AVOID – 10. IMPACT
Impact has been the standard for header fonts. We place it last on our list because while overused, it does have its benefits. It is the “in your face” type font that many people look for to emphasize a certain point or detail. However, it is old, and there are bolder options out there to better make the statement.
FONTS TO AVOID – 9. THE SANS BASIC
This was a great attempt to make a boring font interesting. Much of the font has interesting curves and a great appeal. However, some of the letters just do not fit in. Take, for instance, the “Q”. What is up with that? Yeah, we do not know either.
FONTS TO AVOID – 8. TRAJAN
This one is dubbed the “movie font” Why? Look at the poster for the movie Titanic, just for an example. So many movie ad companies flock to this font to make their statement. In fact, since it has shipped with mostly every Creative Suite edition to date, it is not only over used, but very old!
FONTS TO AVOID – 7. ARIAL
This one should be obvious. Plain and boring. You see enough of it every day, so why would you use it, just to see it even more than you already have to? For more than a decade it has been Microsoft’s default font on all Windows PCs. Thankfully that is no longer the case.
FONTS TO AVOID – 6. COMIC SANS
Great for children’s marketing, birthday party invitations, and even comics. Not great for funeral items, termination letters, and the like. For a while, this font has been used for the opposite of what it was meant for. In fact, so much so that people tend to cringe whenever people see it anymore.
FONTS TO AVOID – 5. FRANKLIN GOTHIC
The go to font when you want your blog to read like a newspaper. Was Ben Franklin even involved in it’s development? Use it for headers, but please, not an entire website!
FONTS TO AVOID – 4. HELVETICA
This one is an old staple. Designed in 1957, it is over a half a century old! So much has happened since 1957. For those that are not history buffs, this includes the Cold War, Vietnam, Watergate, The Space Race and the Moon Landing, JFK’s Assassination, the rise and demise of the Beatles, and the Fall of the Berlin wall & Soviet Union, just to name a few events. We do not currently live like how we would have in 1957, so why are we still using fonts from that era?
FONTS TO AVOID – 3. BRADLEY HAND ITC
I understand the reason for its conception – You want to give your type face a little more style and personality. Howewver, it has been used so much that is has become extremely tacky, and that people who do not even study typeface can point it out.
FONTS TO AVOID – 2. COURIER
So you want your website to look like a typewriter. That would be cool, if typewriters were still relevant in society. May be cool for a retro look on the proper type of website, but it is in no way suited for all websites out there.
FONTS TO AVOID – 1. PAPYRUS
In classic style, we save the best for last! No, no, and no. This one is the king of bad fonts to avoid. In fact, please, avoid it at all costs! I have seen so many eco-friendly and health sites try to make it work, but to no avail. If you want to be taken seriously, it is best to just avoid it.
