Comic Sans 'best font in the world', says creator Vincent Connare

But some say it conveys 'silliness' and 'irreverence'

Serina Sandhu
Tuesday 20 October 2015 13:29 BST
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Vincent Connare created the font in 1994
Vincent Connare created the font in 1994

The creator of the Comic Sans typeface has defiantly insisted it remains "the best font in the world".

Speaking at WIRED2015, Vincent Connare told the audience how he was inspired to create it.

The designer, who also created the Trebuchet and Magpie typefaces, said he wanted to give Microsoft 95's cartoon character assistants, Microsoft Bob and the dog, a specific font for their speech bubbles.

“I thought comic characters can’t talk in [Times New Roman]," he said, adding that was inspired by the lettering of the Watchmen comics.

According to Wired, he told the audience: “Twenty years ago, I made the best font in the world."

But not everyone agrees with Mr Connare.

A campaign has even been launched attempting to prohibiy its use.The Ban Comic Sans Manifesto states: “Like the tone of a spoken voice, the characteristics of a typeface convey meaning… Comic Sans as a voice conveys silliness, childish naiveté, irreverence... It is analogous to showing up for a black tie event in a clown costume.

In 2010, Holly Combs, one of the graphic designers behind the campaign, told The Independent the font was not designed well.

"Hardly a day goes by when I don't see in an inappropriate setting. I would just appeal to people to be more thoughtful," she said.

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The messages conveyed by the font have also led to warnings against using it for job applications.

Earlier this year, Brian Hoff, the creative director of Brian Hoff Design, told Bloomberg that Comic Sans should never be used as the typeface for a CV “unless you are applying to clown college”.

In 2009, Mr Connare told The Wall Street Journal: "If you love it, you don't know much about typography. If you hate it, you really don't know much about typography, either, and you should get another hobby."

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