Skip to main content

Change It Back, IKEA.

The Verdana-Futura beat down is a big deal. Whodathunk it.

I’m a big Futura fan. Like Futura a lot of my work is based on classical proportions and is geometric. Futura conveys sophistication with simplicity which makes it a perfect choice for IKEA. Verdana used to be one of my favorites…when I was a sophomore in college. I liked it because I didn’t know any better. Like many of Matthew Carter’s well known typefaces, Verdana is designed to solve the technical problem of rendering fonts onscreen, not to convey artistic beauty.

There were rumors that IKEA chose Verdana because they wanted a unified graphic identity across all markets. I’ve seen conflicting information on this. If true, it is the only legitimate reason to use Verdana. However:

In Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Thailand for the languages Hebrew, Arabic and Thai, Tahoma is the approved substitute font. JhengHei, a Chinese sans-serif is the substitute font for Traditional Chinese in Taiwan and Hong Kong. YaHei will be substituted for Verdana in mainland China for Simplified Chinese. The Japanese sans-serif, Meiryo is being used in Japan and the Okinawan Islands while Malgun Gothic will be used in North Korea and South Korea. The Tamil language in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius will be displayed using Latha. Source

Second reason cited was cost effectiveness. If everyone switched to the most cost effective font on earth everything would be in Arial. Does IKEA really care about design? Apparently not. They have decided to be the Wal-Mart of the furniture world instead.

Verdana will be gone as soon as we get screens with higher resolutions. Renner wasn’t trying to solve a communications problem, he was creating a piece of art. Futura has stood the test of time, and has been used for different applications generation after generation. In 2123, we will still have Futura advertising space vacations and floating condominiums off the coast of Madagascar. Or everything will be in Arial. Your choice: Sign the petition.

Comments

Anonymous said…
underneath. Fashion industry took notice and today, jeans are [url=http://www.designwales.org/mbt-outlet.htm]MBT shoes sale[/url] interface with different government agencies, such as getting [url=http://www.designwales.org/isabel-marant-outlet.htm]Isabel Marant outlet[/url] spouses cant agree, judges have to get involved and may direct [url=http://www.designwales.org/mbt-outlet.htm]Cheap MBT shoes[/url] the look in the eye of moms or dads when they realize that they
via email with your current customers and offering customers [url=http://www.designwales.org/isabel-marant-outlet.htm]Isabel Marant Sneakers[/url] the roguish nature of the Captain. Jack Sparrow mens pirate [url=http://www.designwales.org/nfl-outlet.htm]NFL Jerseys sale[/url] to wear along with these jeans. As the brand is an expert in [url=http://www.designwales.org/nfl-outlet.htm]NFL Jerseys sale[/url] via email with your current customers and offering customers
with numbers are valued accordingly. Aces have two values; they [url=http://www.designwales.org/isabel-marant-outlet.htm]Isabel Marant boots[/url] with your gutting spoon and scrape all of the soft flesh out. [url=http://www.designwales.org/isabel-marant-outlet.htm]Isabel Marant[/url] to keep the party alive. So I decided to list a couple of cool [url=http://www.designwales.org/isabel-marant-outlet.htm]Isabel Marant Shoes[/url] ensures everything online is up-to-date. AMF Contributor: What
April 17, 2013 at 3:36 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grenale, a haute couture sans-serif.

The elegant Grenale brings a new look to the classic didone. This shimmering sans-serif family with its mild deco shades alters the typical serifs and terminals of the classic style to form a gracefully eye-catching, high-contrast font.

While high-contrast, sans serif forms tend to disappear in the copy, Grenale’s meticulously designed features exhibit proper balance in the spacing and in the thorough improvements of its contours. The rigorous consideration given these details leaves a delicate typeface that doesn’t get washed out in certain applications. Its pure, polished, geometric structure has a glamorous sensitivity, drawing heavily from the inspiration of the haute couture influence.

Grenale’s thin weights are simple but vibrant--elegant forms that naturally lend themselves to high fashion journals, high-end branding, and other five star applications. With added energy and power, the thicker weights with their ink traps and optical compensation intensify the gravitas for a state…
16 comments
Read more

New from insigne: Sommet Serif!

The Sommet superfamily has been updated with a new serifed member. Expanding on Sommet’s successful design principals, Sommet Serif is there when you need legibility for continuous text. Its interesting forms lend it to use as headlines as well. Sommet Serif is available with six weights and complementary italics and plenty of OpenType features. Sommet Serif features a tall x-height, and its letterforms are compact, perfect for when layout space is at a premium. Sommet Serif also includes oldstyle figures and small caps. Use Sommet Serif whenever you need a powerful and contemporary serif. In addition, be sure to check out the sans, rounded, and slab members of the superfamily.
1/3rd off for a limited time!
40 comments
Read more

New from insigne: Aviano Contrast

The Aviano series returns, refined and sophisticated with an extended, high-contrast sans-serif family.  Aviano Contrast is a contemporary typeface radiating with luxury. It’s classic elegance makes it perfect for high-end applications such as cosmetic, jewelry or fashion brands.
Aviano Contrast’s extended forms give the face a smart look, and the curves are carefully honed to be sinuous and seductive. This high-contrast face is in a class of its own, composed in the style of a classic Didone but lacking the typical serifs.


Aviano Contrast comes in six different weights and is packed with OpenType features. Need swash forms? Ball terminals? Art Deco alternates inspired by the inscriptions and signage of the ’20s and ’30s? Aviano Contrast includes 230 alternate characters. Twelve style sets are available, including four complete sets of art deco-inspired alternates, small forms, swash, titling and a wide array of other alternates to make your designs unique. As a complement to these c…
92 comments
Read more