Fury Over Fonts

Garamond just got canceled by the U.S. District Court Of Appeals in Washington D.C.

And this bodes a larger question here that needs to be addressed…

At what point do we choose economy over elegance?

And who should make that choice?

In this case, the court decided Times New Roman and Century were the fonts they preferred.

But Times New Roman is an economy font.

It’s not built for attraction and engagement.

Sorry TNR lovers - it’s true.

And it’s not that I’m against setting font standards that develop consistency and efficiency. It’s just that I’m wondering this:

Who is making the call on which fonts will be used?

Because I’m picturing this being a group of people that have no expertise in typography, and little interest or care in a future different from the status quo.

I hope I’m wrong.

But our cities are littered with buildings and streetscapes designed with an economy over elegance mindset.

Decisions made without expertise, by those who believe the decision itself doesn’t require expertise, is how we end up with a highway running through an Olmsted Park.

These decisions make an impact.

They do matter.

And at some point, a landscape without elegance becomes devoid of spirit and soul, and loses its ability to attract.

In which case there will be nobody of quality left wanting to read these briefs anyway.

My rambling point is this:

Decisions about Quality always matter.

Let’s treat them as such.