Switch to Arial or Sans Serif?
0 voters
We can change the font system-wide to what it was before, which was Sans Serif with Arial as alternate. You see what you have now in the browser, Arial is on the left, Sans Serif (taken from the old forum) is on the right (as a photo so you can look side-by-side - click the thumbnail to get the full size)
Just a few minutes earlier I was thinking of commenting on how the new font is hard on my eyes.
The new font is a bit thin in weight in the default settings. Something a little more weighty, but not necessarily true bold or larger point, would be helpful.
Yes I think the earlier or a bolder font would be better. I do think I/we will get used to the new one eventually – changes like this always feel jarring at first, but then become the new preferred normal.
Actually, it appears to be Sans Serif that used to be our default font - here’s a side-by-side of Arial (left) and Sans Serif (right, from the old forum - again, click it for full size)
Edited OP for re-vote as I found the old forum screenshot, it was Sans Serif - we have those options…so please re-vote as I changed the poll
If you want to change the look, vote now or forever hold your peace - complaining will NOT be allowed after the votes are tallied.
Sans Serif taking a big lead - guess quite a few want the old look…
I voted Sans Serif.
Arial is more elegant/aesthetically pleasing.
Sans Serif is easier to read.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. Loved Arial but then after looking at it via the test forum for a bit, I figured it wasn’t what it was before, then seeing Sans Serif, which is easiest to read. The current font is nice but harder to read - almost cursive-like
I don’t see it so much as pining for the “old look”, rather, the current thin weight font combined with a tinted background creates a general contrast issue. You could use any font with a little more weight (except comic sans!) and achieve a little more contrast and readability. Light typefaces for body text is a basic no-no.
http://www.designjuice.in/blog/marketing/branding/dos-and-donts-of-using-light-typefaces/
Good point - this new style (called Allan, we voted on it, months ago) doesn’t have the tinted background by default. It was added to keep some uniformity for the users, and the font doesn’t look as good on that tinted background
“easier to read” works for me, ain’t getting any younger
I voted Sans Serif but I’ll be honest and say I’m not sure if it’s true preference or just familiarity…
The old is winning by a mile. 
The old ways are always the best
Point size is just as an important consideration as font, especially for our rising-AARP and AARP cohort
Sans serif fonts have been shown again and again to improve online engagement.
Todd, I’d think about keeping it as simple as possible for body copy and then having a bit of fun with the larger display copy, e.g. headers, headlines, etc. That way it’s not totally monochromatic visually.
Improve or increase?
There’s too much consensus in this discussion.
-Al