Verdana is IKEA’s font of the futura. August 25, 2009
Posted by Olivia McDowell in Blogging, Design, Helvetica, The Ether, The News, Typography.Tags: Font, Futura, Helvetica, IKEA, Typeface, Typography, Typophile, Verdana
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03.09.09 UPDATE:
- Great coverage of the issue on idsgn.org, which, I have just discovered, is a Bloody Brilliant Blog (BBB).
- You can sign the anti-Verdana “IKEA please get rid of Verdana” petition here.
- And TIME.com has even cottoned on to the debacle: The Font War: Ikea Fans Fume Over Verdana.
{ from Please Copy Me, via user Raumschiff on Typophile }
After 50 years, IKEA is changing its font from Futura to Verdana.
{ Follow through for the full story & discussion on Typophile.com }
I love IKEA. I can honestly attest that almost every item of furniture I have ever owned (since childbirth) has been from IKEA. IKEA is the Helvetica of the furniture world. It is a blank canvas. A neutral. Sufficient character to stand up on its own (pun intended), but muted enough that it doesn’t drown out what you’re really trying to say * .
I also love the kooky IKEA language, and the crazy nomenclature around which it is built. A mirror known as FRÄCK; a tiny plush owl toy called SOT; a computer table that answers to the name DAVE. Every book I’ve ever owned has lived on a BILLY bookcase.
Part of me worries that none of these will look or sound quite so Scandinavianly edgy when printed in Verdana…
*Probably something along the lines of “I like low prices, simple lines, white-on-white, and am handy with an Allen key“.
Well, you already know my thoughts on this!
Meanwhile, speaking of the titles of Ikea collections, my friend Beata was very excited when she found out about the BEATA collection.
Sign the IKEA anti-verdana petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/IKEAVERD/petition.html
Oh brilliant! Have done!
Even more than I smile at the idea of a Billy bookcase, I love Ikea’s decision to coordinate it with a range called Benno. Billy and Benno? Really? If the British cultural reference is lost on you, see: http://www.wwwk.co.uk/television/shows/kids/flowerpot-men.htm, or imagine matching furniture designs called Bertie and Ernus…
That is comical! But what’s stranger is that it might be pure coincidence — IKEA’s bookshelf ranges are actually named after Swedish occupations!