A few days ago, the Sydney Morning Herald decided to use Comic Sans (the font that people love to hate) in speech bubbles on the front page of it’s newspaper, which riled up many people on Twitter.

The 183-year-old newspaper’s front page was of the Independent Commission against Corruption witnesses Eric Roozendaaland & Chris Hartcher and had Comic Sans speech bubbles of their comments.

It was discovered by News Corp Editor Rob Scott of news.com.au on Wednesday 3rd of September who decided to post a picture of the newspaper on Twitter saying, “When they record the downfall of Fairfax, the comic sans front page will be seen as the beginning of the end.”

https://twitter.com/Rob_Stott/status/506923323368828928

There was an email response from the Herald’s editor-in-chief, Darren Goodsir, which was also written in Comic Sans shortly afterwards:

 

“Dear Mark, As you can see, I love the font – but am more than aware that my affections are not universally shared.

As for the newspaper, the decision was made to match the surreal nature of the shocking revelations at the ICAC – and it was felt the font would best depict the comic-book feel we were trying to give to the front; as if to make a mockery of the appalling displays in the witness box from a former politician and a current parliamentarian.

I am very pleased with the result, but that’s about it. Best, Darren.”

 

Facts about Comic Sans for people who don’t know about:

  • It was designed by former Microsoft font designer Vincent Connare in 1994
  • Comic Sans was invented for a talking cartoon dog that helped navigate computers, and would have been a successful typeface for the aliased screens of the time, but never made it into the program.
  • It got shipped out with the Windows 95 and that’s when people started to use it inappropriately, that it became the font that designers hate today.
  • The uncool font is so hated by designers it sparked a Ban Comic Sans movement in 1999.
  • Last month, it celebrated its 20th anniversary.
  • Last month it actually served a purpose for Cancer Research UK promotion with Comic Sans for Cancer exhibition during it’s anniversary.

 

Newspaper article from The Guardian