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Font Freaks Fuming Over Ikea Typeface Change

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Forget about draconian DRM measures, the RIAA's crusade against its customers, increasing spam and security threats, price fixing allegations, or any of that other nonsense. It's one thing to put up with all of that, but how dare home product and furniture store Ikea change its Typeface?

"I thought that something had gone terribly wrong, but when I Twittered about it, people at their ad agency told me that this was actually the new Ikea font," said Mattias Akerberg after he made the startling discovery in his local Swedish newspaper. "I could hardly believe it was true."

Before you criticize Akerberg for overreacting, bear in mind that Ikea has been using a customized version of Futura for longer than some have even been born. But with the company's 2010 catalog, Ikea has made the switch to Verdana, a font Microsoft originally intended to be used on screen, not on paper. What was Ikea thinking?

"It doesn't exhibit any elegance or visual rhythm when set at large sizes," says Simon l'Anson, creative director at Made by Many, a London-based digital consulting company. "It's like taking the family sedan off-road. It will sort of work, but ultimately gets bogged down."

In our opinion, the switch needs no analogy. The horrendous font-swap speaks for itself.

Who are we kidding, it's a font for ____'s sake. Any MPC readers taking serious issue with this? If so, we'd like to hear it. Hit the jump and post your disgust.

COMMENTS:26
COMMENTS
avatarThe font changed did not notice nor care

a vocal monority who make it their business to think that they know all that is good is advertising will weep tears of blood and call this a tragic event. while the rest of the world just wish they would die already!

I do not think Don Draper of Mad Men would care! 

There is no peace at the gate.

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avatarFont Change: Will it matter in the end?

Whenever change in design/style occurs, there is always a backlash of some kind. But if the change is well thought, then it will not matter in the end.  

I wrote about this subject recently on my blog:

http://deanklotz.com/?p=374 

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avatarSlow news day?

Slow news day?

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avatarThis is something

This is something that should be discussed on Flip this house or home and garden or design on a dime not Maximum PC. Smells of paid advertisement.

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avatar so who paid for the

 so who paid for the advertisment then? You think Idea is paying a company to post font news when they could say pay for "IKEA makes new computer hutch?"

------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.

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avatarmeh

I have the catalog in front of me. The person who noticed this is most likely a tool (and not the kind of tool who shops at IKEA like myself, more like the tool who posts lots of negative comments all over MPC because he/she has nothing better to do). The reason MPC put this on the site is because it is entertaining and we like to be entertained. It has nothing to do with self promotion. ig no ra mus

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avatar>.>

>.> lot of comments over nothing

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avatarNice.

I like it.

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avataronly self indulgent, anal,

only self indulgent, anal, asshat , apple toting graphic designers and typographers would be "offended" by the typeface change. for one, its hardly noticeable, and two, who gives a crap? its legible, big, bold, and works fine....bitch please.

i can already imagine my old graphic design proffessor fuming under his soul patch

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avatar I wanted to say something

 I wanted to say something witty and possibly constructive... but I just cannot get past the laughing. Any time I try, I just laugh myself out of my chair.

________________________________________________________________
.: vires et honos :.

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avatarIf by difference you mean no

If by difference you mean no difference, I totally see the difference.

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avatarEpic Fail

I don't see what the point of this article is. It's not even related to technology. This looks like a poor attempt of self promoting.

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avatarOther than the numbers I

Other than the numbers I honestly don't see the difference.

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avatarI don't even see a

I don't even see a difference in the numbers... except the 9 in the first ad doesn't much look like the 1 in the second... but then that's kinda the point ;) .

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avatarMe either.

Me either.

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avatarFont Nazis

I'm a graphic designer and while I understand the criticism I also say who cares. Ikea is not exactly a bastion of tasteful and elegant design in the first place...

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avatarFont

This absurd discussion on font style is best left to graphic design 'artists' with the phony BFA degrees...  It'll keep them busy with their stylish Macs, iPods and iPhones...

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avatarOmit

Replied to wrong post. see below.

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avatarIt looks exactly the same. I

It looks exactly the same. I suggest the man who twittered this kill himself.

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avatarDon't say that!

Don't say that! He might actually do it and blame it on you.

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avatarOMG

OMG I can still read it! Call the lawyers!

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avatarI really don't get it.

Maybe I'm visually impared or something, but I don't see how it's any better or worse one way or another.  Really, I'm not joking.  I would have noticed the layout of the title (with 2010 on the side) WAY before I would have noticed a font difference.
### I'm an idiot, and I approve this message ###

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avatarIKEA or I K E A

Looks just fine to me, I doubt the company will see any sales loss as a result of a catalog most don't see anyway. I walk through the store not the front page of a catalog. ""I thought that something had gone terribly wrong, but when I twittered about it..." Twittered?!?! Wow, this guy needs a new hobby or even better the latest issue of MaxiumPC! 

Dave

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avatar is the difference the

 is the difference the little tildes?

------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.

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avatarHey

 They could be using Wingdings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

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avatarHaha!

I snorted Pepsi Cola out of my nose when I read your comment. 

Hilarious. 

~Goose

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