Entertainment

Comic Sans creator reveals he has only used the typeface once

But he still thinks it has a time and a place.
But he still thinks it has a time and a place.

If you were a child of the 90s, you are probably more than familiar with Microsoft’s Comic Sans.

This typeface which was first released in 1994 popped up everywhere, from birthday party invitations and school projects to flyers and leaflets. And yes, even the sign at your local chippie was probably painted in Comic Sans.

Now in a surprising twist 23 years later, the creator of this ubiquitous font has revealed he has used it only once.

Comic Sans.
(Aimee Rivers/Flickr)

In an interview with The Guardian, Vincent Connare said: “I’ve only ever used Comic Sans once. I was having trouble changing my broadband to Sky so wrote them a letter in Comic Sans, saying how disappointed I was. I got a £10 refund.

“In those cases, I would recommend it. The basic theory is that typography should not shout – but Comic Sans shouts.”

Which isn’t, erm, the case for many of us:

Connare was inspired by comic book lettering when he created the font and it was originally intended for use in Microsoft Bob. It was later included in Windows 95. Since then, the typeface has appeared on all Microsoft Windows systems and found its way into other graphic design applications such as the Adobe suite.The world, for some reason, has been bitterly divided over the use of Comic Sans. In fact, judging by Twitter, some are still raging about the fact that Comic Sans found its way in places other than children’s literature…

Comic Sans is truly the Marmite of typefaces.