Categories: Manifesto

Manifesto Score Case Study: Ban Comic Sans

Our first Case Study using the Manifesto Score…

Manifesto: Ban Comic Sans

Created by: Holly and David Combs

Source: http://bancomicsans.com

Score: 5 out of 9

Manifesto Analysis

YES Manifestos are primal: Yes, they clearly have a manifesto.

YES Manifestos terminate the past: Yes, end the use of Comic Sans

NO Manifestos create new worlds: No, their focus is on ending not creating

YES Manifestos trigger communities: Yes, there is a Facebook Page that has 143 friends LINK http://www.facebook.com/bancomicsans

NO Manifestos define us: No, not a clear definition of a group

NO Manifestos antagonise others: No, unless typefaces get offended and it only loosely affronts Microsoft who released the font.

NO Manifestos inspire being: No, what’s the attitude or way of being I should adopt?

YES Manifestos provoke action: Yes, banning and not using a font is an action that can be clearly taken.

YES Manifestos crave presence: Yes, a website campaign with a bunch of artefacts to support it. Well done!

To improve their Manifesto Score, here’s some suggestions…

Create new worlds: what would a world without Comic Sans be like? Describe it. This could be tantalisingly good… What would a world based on type appreciation be like?
Define us: Rather than appeal merely to the ‘common man’, a stronger emphasis on who are we could be good. For example, are we type lovers?
Antagonise others: Are we annoyed at Microsoft or those stupid, ignorant people who continue to use Comic Sans in inappropriate ways? Did this get up your nose? It was meant to…
Inspire being: How am I supposed to feel? What philosophy, attitude or way of acting am I proposing? Should we be proud and march triumphantly down the street now that we’ve banished Comic Sans?

How would you score Ban Comic Sans? Was I too harsh, too gentle or about right?

Geoff McDonald