News & Events, Tech

You can decide on Microsoft’s next default font

There’s five custom fonts to choose from.

words by: Sahar Khraibani
May 9, 2021

Microsoft is finally making a decision on a new default font, and they want your input. The tech company is asking the internet to vote on its next default font, which will be chosen from a collection of five custom, original fonts.

 

Calibri replaced Times New Roman as the operating system’s default font 14 years ago and now the software giant is looking to shake things up with a new package. Tenorite, Bierstadt, Skeena, Seaford, and Grandview are the names of five recent custom, original fonts created by a team of designers.

 

Each of the five fonts offers a unique and new perspective on what makes a fine, standard font, and Microsoft is now asking the public to help them select the one that should be chosen.

 

In a statement, the company shared:

“Default fonts are perhaps most notable in the absence of the impression they make. We seldom give them much thought, and therein lies their greatest gift. When a font blends into the background of a user experience, people can jump right into the creative process and stay grounded in their thoughts rather than thinking about the form those thoughts take.” They continued to share: “while default fonts may not have the same flair as some of their more eye-catching cousins (we’re looking at you, Bauhaus 93 and Showcard Gothic), they communicate a distinct personality in their own quiet way—a personality that by extension becomes our personality as well. A default font is often the first impression we make; it’s the visual identity we present to other people via our resumes, documents, or emails. And just as people and the world around us age and grow, so too should our modes of expression. Calibri has been the default font for all things Microsoft since 2007, when it stepped in to replace Times New Roman across Microsoft Office. It has served us all well, but we believe it’s time to evolve. To help us set a new direction, we’ve commissioned five original, custom fonts to eventually replace Calibri as the default. We’re excited to share these brand-new fonts with you today and would love your input.”

 

For that end, you can head over to Twitter and tell Microsoft which font is your favorite. Even if your favorite font isn’t chosen, all of the fonts will be available in the font menu, alongside Calibri and other favorites from the Office apps in Microsoft 365 and beyond.

 

Photo via Microsoft