Ikea Switches Typeface - Does it Devaluate Good Design?
This week, the third most printed publication in the world right after the Bible & Harry Potter hit the headlines of many respectable newspapers and the whole design community alike just by deciding to replace the typeface in their most recent annual catalogue.
IKEA said they required a font to reach out to customers worldwide in digital and print media and so decided to switch from famous Futura to Verdana - a font originally created by Matthew Carter for Microsoft back in 1996 primary for on-screen usage.
Even though I also believe that it’s definitely not the most fortunate decision, I have to admit that now that I read the 2010 edition of the catalogue, it doesn’t look as bad as expected, probably also because their designers did a pretty good job.
However, what I worry about most is that a company which is famous for elegant and well designed products decides to switch to such a simple and particularly boring font which felt like a huge step back compared with the one used before, especially considering that to date a short look at their advertisement was sufficient to recognize their products immediately.
Because of that, to me it seems as if a company which obviously benefits from its classy, modern and stylish image suddenly doesn’t seem to care about that too much anymore, what in my opinion seriously devaluates good design and leaves a disappointing, almost uncomfortable feeling.
But let’s face it, IKEA is just a huge company selling furniture with strange names you even have to assemble on your own, which decided to replace a successful, elegant typeface with a plain, boring one in order to unify their branding worldwide and probably to save some expenses too. Even though I strongly disagree with the decision itself, I have to admit that probably most people won’t even recognize the difference at all or simply don’t care about that as long as they can read it.
In the end it’s just a business related decision which definitely won’t hold me back purchasing new shelves, couches and desks from them again - darn, nearly my entire office is already equipped with their stuff - but it’s still a wrong signal because from my point of view design absolutely matters and IKEA wouldn’t be where they are now if their image wouldn’t express that too.
One thing I’d like to add is that I think it’s really lovely how upset most designers (including myself) reacted when they heard about that - I think you really have to enjoy your job in order to care about things which appear to be that irrelevant at first sight!
Now, what do you think about that? Do you care at all or is it even a reason not to buy their stuff anymore?
Comments
Great Article on FrooWeb- Maximilian Bartel
- 31061 Alfeld (Leine)
- GERMANY
