Five Fonts We Never Want to Read Again

If a new study by Princeton psychologists is any indication, we’ll be seeing a surge in ugly typefaces within the near future. After switching out straightforward text book fonts for “disfluent” ones like Comic Sans and Haettenschweiler, the team of researchers found that students’ reading retention “significantly improved in naturalistic settings by presenting reading material in a format that is slightly harder to read.” Given the potential educational application of this evidence — as well as its inevitably misapplied implications — here’s a preemptive field guide to five of the most reviled typefaces we’ll regrettably be seeing more of soon.

Papyrus

What is it: Although designer Chris Costello wanted to create the hypothetical look of ancient English script — had it been, say, written on Egyptian parchment two millenia ago — Papyrus has become synonymous with lazy pretentiousness. The faux-archaic feel of this calligraphy-inspired script has become a staple for short hand self-seriousness.
Common uses: Avatar’s subtitles, coffee shop signs, wedding invitations

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I feel like hatred of Papyrus has become just as trendy as loving Helvetica. Like in these coasters: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2902332

The only dingbat is anyone who takes three random letter combinations like NYC, the symbols that happen to represent it, and assume that was the intention of the designer. A hidden message. Does the word Paranoid mean anything to you? Combine that font in enough ways you can take anything you want from it. Like listening to Beatles records to prove Paul is dead.

I've been a designer/typographer for over 30 years (God help me) and have seen countless typographical trends come and go (remember Future Extra Bold Condensed anyone?). Good typography, however, never goes out of style. What separates the men from the boys comes down to one word: tastefulness. Good typography never goes out of style; it should be invisible. It's job is to aid the reader, not to show off the skills of the designer or ride the typeface-of-the-month. I, too, used to hate Times New Roman until I remembered that it's not the typeface that makes the typographer, but the typographer that makes the typeface. Aim for Classic over Trendy and you can't go wrong.

@seedy3 - Times New Roman definitely should've made this list.

whoa dude (joe legris). that is sick!

Take a look at this www.poofont.com

I still do not understand the ire people have toward certain fonts. Who cares?

http://cinnamonbrainstorm.blogspot.com/2010/12/amusing-response-to-its-critics-from.html I'M COMIC SANS, ASSHOLE by Mike Lacher "Listen up. I know the shit you've been saying behind my back. You think I'm stupid. You think I'm immature. You think I'm a malformed, pathetic excuse for a font. Well think again, nerdhole, because I'm Comic Sans, and I'm the best thing to happen to typography since Johannes fucking Gutenberg.... cont'd at http://cinnamonbrainstorm.blogspot.com/2010/12/amusing-response-to-its-critics-from.html

I confess: I like Papyrus.

The original Apple/Macintosh font...takes me back to third grade lemonade stand game...ick!

you forgot times new roman--the bane of every graphic designer's existence when dealing with idiot clients who don't know jack about anything. arial runs a close second place.

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